What exactly is a routine checkup? It's different for everyone. It's not a one-size-fits-all anymore. Your doctor may want to see you once a year for a physical, but might also tell you that you don't need to come in that often if you are feeling well. Others will be asked to visit for regular checkups more than once a year if their condition requires monitoring.

During a periodic health exam, your doctor may order tests such as cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, mammography (to detect breast cancer) and colon cancer screenings - depending on your age. For those in higher age groups, these tests help reduce the risks of dying from diseases like colon cancer, which can be caught early. These screenings and tests allow you and your doctor to be proactive in managing your health.

Certain factors may increase your risks for diseases like type 2 diabetes and thyroid conditions. You may need testing more frequently than others. A family history of diabetes, for example, puts you in a higher risk group.

That's why it's important for your doctor to know everything about your health, including your family history, your medical history, any past surgeries, your current medications and your diet. Your doctor also needs to know the last time you had certain tests - such as cholesterol screenings, which should be done every five years for healthy adults and more often if you have high cholesterol or take certain medications.

Another good reason for a periodic evaluation is to detect diseases and conditions early before they cause symptoms or major damage. High blood pressure, for instance, is a silent disease that doesn't exhibit symptoms. Yet with every heartbeat, high blood pressure can cause more and more damage to every part of your body.

Sticking with the same doctor is a good way to track a reliable health history. Most patients don't have records forwarded when they switch from doctor to doctor, causing them to fall into a never-never land of missing medical records.

At regular checkups, your doctor can tell you which screenings you should get and when. Call your doctor and make an appointment for a health evaluation. Take stock of your health and take charge.

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External Sources U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Harvard Medical School