A Note from Brady

A Note from Brady

As I get established both in my new role at Boone Health and in my new home in Columbia, I have more than a few priorities. I want to thank Boone Electric Cooperative, Ameren Missouri, and Columbia Water & Light for making the process of establishing services easy.

As always, when I move to a new city, my top health priority is to get set up with a new primary care provider and schedule my annual physical. I believe an annual physical or wellness exam is the best first step you can take for your health. A yearly visit can offer countless benefits, including time to discuss your concerns one-on-one with your provider and the opportunity to get a clear picture of your current state of health. It’s one of the best ways to ensure early detection of health conditions. Knowing your cholesterol or blood pressure today can help you spot any changes before they develop into serious health problems and encourage you to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Annual physicals also help your primary care provider recommend the appropriate follow-up care and work with you to develop a personalized care plan.

I believe an annual physical or wellness exam is the best first step you can take for your health.

“During an annual physical, my priority is to get as much information as possible about my patient’s health and their personal, family, and social history so I can provide them with appropriate suggestions and guidelines and help them make informed decisions that they are comfortable with,” says Ayaaz Habibullah, MD, a physician with Boone Health Primary Care-Nifong.

“Determining a patient’s family history is crucial because this can change the age they should get certain screenings – for example, colonoscopies usually start at 45 but are recommended sooner if there’s a family history of colorectal cancer. Understanding a patient’s risk factors helps me determine if they need special screenings – for example, if I’m seeing a male smoker over 65, I’ll recommend an ultrasound of the abdomen to look for signs of an aortic aneurysm. Understanding their current chronic illnesses helps me determine if they’re on the right type of medication or if they need follow-up testing. Understanding their goals for long term health helps me provide guidelines and suggestions for lifestyle modification such as diet and exercise.”

Dr. Habibullah adds, “Even if you’re a healthy individual, annual exams are crucial for long-term health. These visits help us potentially catch diseases in early stages, before they cause serious long-term complications, or even prevent these illnesses from occurring.”

In recent years, there’s been a decline nationwide in the number of adults who schedule an annual physical with a primary care provider. While COVID may have caused some people to put off wellness visits, it’s important we don’t miss out on the positive impact an annual physical can make on our overall health and well-being.

This year, I’m not making a resolution to schedule my annual physical, I’m making a pledge to myself and to my family to get it done. I encourage you to do the same for yourself and your loved ones. Schedule an appointment today with your primary care provider – even if it’s been a few years since your last visit, they’ll be glad to see you again.

If you need a primary care provider, Boone Health Medical Group has 11 primary care clinics including clinics in Ashland, Boonville, Centralia, Columbia, Glasgow, Hallsville, Mexico, Moberly, and Osage Beach. To learn more, visit www.boone.health/primarycare.