4 Annual Health Checkups You Shouldn’t Skip

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to put your health on the back burner. Whether you’ve missed a routine checkup or simply haven’t found the time, preventive care is one of the best ways to protect your health and catch problems early.

1. Annual Physical Exam

An annual physical is the foundation of good preventive care. During your visit, your primary care provider will review your medical history, discuss your overall health, and recommend screenings based on your age, family history, and personal risk factors.

Your annual physical may include:

• Blood pressure screening
• Cholesterol testing
• Blood sugar or diabetes screening
• Weight and body mass index (BMI) evaluation
• Recommended vaccinations
• Mental health screening
• Discussion of cancer screenings such as mammograms or colon cancer screening

Even if you feel healthy, regular physical exams can identify conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol before symptoms develop.

2. Annual Eye Exam

Regular eye exams do more than update your glasses or contact lens prescription. They can detect vision changes early and identify eye diseases before permanent damage occurs.

An annual eye exam may help detect:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Diabetic eye disease
• Macular degeneration
• Other vision problems

Children should also receive routine vision screenings and eye exams, especially if they have trouble reading, experience headaches, or struggle to see the board at school.

3. Annual Well-Woman Exam

A yearly well-woman exam helps women stay healthy through every stage of life. During the visit, your provider can answer questions, address new symptoms, and recommend preventive screenings.

Your visit may include:

• Pelvic exam, when appropriate
• Cervical cancer screening (Pap test) based on current guidelines
• Breast health evaluation and mammogram recommendations
• Birth control counseling
• Sexual health discussion
• Menstrual or menopause concerns
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing when needed

These visits are an important opportunity to identify health concerns early and create a personalized plan for lifelong wellness.

4. Annual Skin Check

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it’s also one of the most treatable when found early.

A yearly skin exam allows your provider to evaluate moles, freckles, and other skin changes for signs of skin cancer, including melanoma. During the visit, you can also discuss common skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, or unusual rashes.

You should schedule a skin check sooner if you notice:

• A mole that changes in size, shape, or color
• A sore that doesn’t heal
• New or rapidly growing skin lesions
• Bleeding or itching moles

Make Preventive Care a Priority

Preventive care is one of the simplest ways to stay healthier, avoid serious illness, and improve your long-term well-being. If it’s been a while since your last checkup, now is a great time to schedule an appointment.

Whether you need a primary care provider, a specialist, or help coordinating your care, Grady is here to help you stay healthy every step of the way. Book your appointment online at gradyhealth.org, through MyChart, or call (404) 616-1000. With convenient locations across metro Atlanta, you’ll have access to expert primary care and Grady’s full network of specialty services.