6 minute read
Must Have Health Appointments
One of the most important things you can do for your health is to simply show up.
Make appointments with health care professionals – and keep them. When you’re there, be sure to ask questions and advocate for your needs. Review your own family history, lifestyle and risk factors, then work with your health care providers to ensure that you stay on top of health issues that could be in your future. If you’re not quite sure where to start, this is a quick guide to which appointments you should be making in each decade and some of the issues you should be talking about. Your doctors will be thrilled to see you so engaged with your well-being! by Amanda Harper
ANNUAL CHECKUP
Starting in Your 20s See your primary care physician for an annual checkup. During this appointment, they will look at everything from your blood pressure to physical and sensory changes. Be sure to discuss what tests and screenings might be appropriate for you, based on both your family history and your age. Women should let their PCP know whether they intend to have their annual gynecological exam; if not, your doctor may provide some of those screenings for you. Men can opt to have a physical exam that includes the famous “turn your head and cough” test. Discuss whether blood work or cholesterol counts would be wise. Also check with your doctor regarding what vaccinations you might be due for and whether you should have a flu shot (and when). If you are experiencing any symptoms of depression or anxiety, talk with your doctor about whether mental health care might be appropriate. DERMATOLOGIST Make an annual appointment to have your skin checked, especially if you’re fair-skinned, have a lot of sun exposure or have a family history of skin cancer. If you notice a spot that has visibly changed, go ahead and make an appointment. OPTOMETRIST/OTHALMOLOGIST The current recommendation is to have an eye exam once in your 20s and twice in your 30s unless otherwise advised by your ophthalmologist. If you notice any changes in your vision, make an appointment.
ANNUAL GYNECOLOGICAL EXAM
Current recommendations are for women in their 20s-30s to have pelvic exams every other year, or more often if there are particular concerns or family history of ovarian cancer. If you have a normal pap test, it is recommended that you get one every three years (though it may be easier to remember if you go ahead and get them every other year.) However, an annual “well woman check” can still be beneficial as it includes breast cancer screening and a quick checkup on your overall sexual wellness. If you are sexually active, ask about STI screenings and family planning.
DENTIST
Have dental cleanings and checkups at least twice a year. Make appointments in between for specific concerns, or if you dental care expert recommends you be seen more often. People with braces will see their dentists and orthodontists more often.
Can it be
TELEHEALTH?
Telehealth or virtual health appointments offer both convenience and protection from some communicable illnesses. Ask your doctor whether an annual visit can be conducted this way. Many times, the answer is yes! Some tests can be conducted using mail-in kits while others may require in-person visits later. Some professionals may ask that your fi rst visit be inoffi ce. This helps you get to know one another better, and they may be able to show you how their virtual care app works!
AT ANY AGE...
AESTHETIC EXPERT
If you are concerned about aging – or you have had plastic surgery in the past – schedule a consult with an expert once every couple years. Your provider will take a look at your areas of concern and make recommendations for care going forward.
If you have breast implants that are 10 or more years old, talk to a plastic surgeon about how they are sitting, and whether replacement might be needed.
VACATION
Yes, booking yourself some time away from it all really is health care. Even if you don’t go far, unplugging from your life for a week can do wonders for your mental health.
Starting in Your 40s MAMMOGRAM
Women should have an annual mammogram, unless instructed otherwise by your health care providers. Discuss what kind of mammogram might be best for your breast tissue. Men should ask their doctors whether breast cancer screenings might be appropriate for them; 1 out of every 100 breast cancer diagnoses in the US is a man.
ANNUAL PROSTATE CANCER SCREENINGS
Men have a few options to screen for this disease. Talk to your doctor about your choices.
STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM
This test will get a baseline of how your heart is aging. This can turn up a number of heart diseases before they become critical. If your heart is healthy, your doctor may suggest fewer screenings, but a regular test will get a good baseline for your heart.
Starting in Your 50s COLONOSCOPY
These screenings help detect early signs of colorectal cancer when it is most treatable. If you have no family history and your fi rst screening shows no signs of cancer, you can choose to wait 5 years for your next appointment. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.
LUNG SCREENING
A CT scan of the lungs is recommended every year for current and former smokers, as well as people who are high-risk. If you don’t have any of these risk factors, it may still be smart to make an appointment for a screening every few years; remember, lung cancer can happen to anyone.
BONE DENSITY SCAN
Routine testing should begin at menopause in women to ensure bone health and to help catch osteoporosis early. Men generally do not need this screening.
Wildcat ...a local business with heart.
The folks at The Wildcat Group hear this a lot, and they are humbled by the recognition and steadfast support from the community since they fi rst opened a decade ago. The Wildcat Group calls Lexington home, so they embrace the responsibility to serve the people and organizations in the central Kentucky region who need help the most. While they strive to be the best service providers in the Commonwealth, their proudest achievements are born from the work they do where you may not see them.
The Wildcat Group supports local charities and non-profi t organizations who focus on a diverse range of community-uplifting, even lifesaving, initiatives. Whether it be moving a domestic violence victim to a safe space or providing a truck to store donated bicycles during the holidays, The Wildcat Group answers the call. They also work with organizations who promote and advocate for early childhood education, literacy, healthy living, pediatric cancer research, and much more. The Wildcat Group donated more than a thousand labor hours in 2020, plus trucks and equipment, to assist charities behind these causes in fulfi lling their missions.
While monetary considerations are important, The Wildcat Group believes collaborating with its charitable partners through actionable planning and effort will foster meaningful relationships and create impactful change within Lexington and the region at large. No cause is too big or too small to ask for the company’s help because The Wildcat Group is committed to service in more ways than one.
