Annual Checkups vs. Preventive Screenings: What’s the Difference?

You don’t have to feel sick to see a doctor.

Regular checkups and preventive health screenings can help you stay healthy and find some health problems early, sometimes before you notice symptoms. But a checkup and a screening are not the same thing.

A routine checkup looks at your overall health. A preventive screening checks for a specific disease or health condition.

You may need both. Your primary care doctor can help you understand which checkups, tests, and screenings are right for you based on your age, health, and family history.

Not sure if you’re due for a checkup or screening? Schedule a primary care appointment with Grady.

What Is a Routine Checkup?

A routine checkup, sometimes called an annual physical, wellness visit, or preventive visit, is a chance to talk with your doctor about your overall health.

You don’t need to be sick to schedule one.

During a checkup, your doctor may:

• Check your blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and other vital signs
• Review your medications
• Talk about your personal and family health history
• Review your vaccines
• Discuss sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress, and other health habits
• Talk about any changes or concerns you’ve noticed
• Check whether you’re due for preventive screenings

What happens during your visit will depend on your age, health history, and individual needs.

What Is a Preventive Screening?

A preventive screening is a test that looks for a specific disease or health problem, often before you have symptoms.

Common health screenings for adults may include:

• Blood pressure checks
• Cholesterol tests
• Diabetes screening
• Breast cancer screening, including mammograms
• Cervical cancer screening
• Colorectal cancer screening
• Lung cancer screening for people at higher risk
• Osteoporosis screening
• Prostate cancer screening or discussions when appropriate
• Screening for infections, including Hep-C and HIV

You won’t need every screening on this list. Your doctor can help determine which screenings you need and when you should have them.

Routine Checkup vs. Preventive Screening

The biggest difference is simple:

ROUTINE CHECKUP	PREVENTIVE SCREENING
Looks at your overall health	Looks for a specific health condition
Reviews your health and risk factors	Uses a specific test or exam
Gives you time to talk with your doctor	Often looks for disease before symptoms start
Helps determine which screenings you need	May happen during your checkup or at another appointment

For example, you may see your primary care doctor for a routine checkup. During that visit, your doctor may tell you that it’s time for a mammogram or colorectal cancer screening.

Your checkup helps create the plan. Your screenings are part of that plan.

Why Are Regular Checkups Important?

Regular primary care visits help your doctor get to know you and your health over time.

They also give you a chance to catch up on care you may have missed.

Check Your Numbers

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can develop without obvious symptoms. Regular visits can help you keep track of important health numbers and understand what they mean.

Talk About Changes in Your Health

Tell your doctor about new symptoms, changes in how you feel, or concerns about your physical or mental health. Even small changes can be worth discussing.

Review Your Medications

Bring a list of the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Your doctor can make sure your medication list is up to date and talk with you about any questions or side effects.

Stay Up to Date on Vaccines

The vaccines you need can change as you get older or if your health changes. Your doctor can check whether you’re due for any vaccinations.

Find Out Which Screenings You Need

Screening recommendations can depend on your age, sex, family history, smoking history, medical conditions, and other risk factors.

Your primary care doctor can help you make a preventive care plan that’s right for you.

Why Are Preventive Health Screenings Important?

Some health problems can develop without causing symptoms.

Preventive screenings can help find certain diseases earlier. In some cases, they can even find changes before they become cancer.

For example:

• Mammograms can find breast changes that may be too small to feel.
• Colorectal cancer screening can find cancer early and may find precancerous growths.
• Blood pressure checks can find high blood pressure even when you feel fine.
• Diabetes screening can find high blood sugar before you notice symptoms.

Finding a health problem early may give you more options for treatment and help prevent complications.

What Health Screenings Do I Need?

There isn’t one screening schedule that’s right for everyone.

Your doctor may consider your:

• Age
• Personal health history
• Family health history
• Previous screening results
• Smoking history
• Weight
• Medications
• Lifestyle
• Pregnancy status
• Risk for certain diseases

Screening recommendations can also change over time. That’s one reason regular primary care visits matter.

Instead of trying to figure out every screening on your own, ask your doctor: “What screenings am I due for?”

Can I Get Preventive Screenings During My Checkup?

Some screenings can be done during a primary care visit. Others require a separate appointment.

For example, your doctor may check your blood pressure during your visit or order blood work to check your cholesterol or blood sugar.

Other screenings, such as a mammogram, colonoscopy, or lung cancer screening, may need to be scheduled separately.

Your primary care team can help you understand what you need and where to get it.

How Often Should I Get a Checkup?

How often you should see your primary care doctor depends on your health.

Some people may benefit from a checkup every year. Others may need to see their doctor more often because of their age, medications, chronic health conditions, or other health risks.

Your doctor can recommend a schedule that’s right for you.

And remember: don’t wait for your next routine checkup if you have a new or concerning symptom. Contact your healthcare provider when you have a health concern that needs attention.

What Should I Bring to a Routine Checkup?

A little preparation can help you get more from your appointment.

Consider bringing:

• A list of your medications and supplements
• Information about your family health history
• Records of recent tests or vaccines, if needed
• A list of questions or health concerns
• Information about any new symptoms or changes you’ve noticed

You may also want to ask:

• What preventive screenings do I need?
• Am I up to date on my vaccines?
• Should I be screened for diabetes or high cholesterol?
• Does my family history put me at higher risk for anything?
• Are my medications still right for me?
• What can I do to lower my health risks?
• When should I schedule my next visit?

Don’t Wait Until You’re Sick

Primary care isn’t only for when something is wrong.

Regular checkups can help you understand your health, keep up with recommended screenings, manage ongoing conditions, and make a plan to stay as healthy as possible.

And if a screening does find something that needs a closer look, your primary care team can help you understand what comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Next Step for Your Health

Not sure which checkups or screenings you need? Start with primary care.

Grady’s primary care teams can help you understand your health risks, keep up with recommended screenings, manage ongoing health conditions, and build a care plan that’s right for you.

Schedule your Grady primary care appointment today.

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