How Often Do You Need To Go To The Doctor For A Checkup?
Many people just do not feel the need to visit the doctor when they are healthy. According to a survey by Cigna, one-third of Americans only visit the doctor when they are exhibiting signs of a physical health problem. This applies even to insured Americans, for whom preventative medical visits are covered in full.
But by helping to prevent diseases or to catch diseases at an early stage, getting regular checkups may reduce your visits to the doctor and hospital in the long-term. Even better news: your regular checkup does not necessarily need to be as frequent as traditional wisdom would dictate. Many Americans believe that they need to get a checkup on a yearly basis (per Kaiser Health News); however, this is not the case for most healthy people. Current recommendations are more nuanced and are based on age, gender, health history, and individual risk factors (per eMedicine Health).
This is how often you should get a checkup
According to Healthline, experts generally recommend a checkup once every three years if you're a healthy adult younger than 50. On the other hand, annual exams should be considered by people who are 65 years of age or older, or who have pre-existing conditions or risk factors for serious conditions (per PhysicianOne Urgent Care). Since the recommendations differ from person to person, you should talk with your doctor about how often it would be best for you personally to get a checkup.
A variety of different screening tests are also recommended on a periodic basis depending on your age and gender; for example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women above the age of 50 get a mammogram every two years.
Regardless of how often you see your doctor for a checkup, you should always consult your doctor if you experience any concerning symptoms. You should also keep up to date with your vaccinations (via Healthline), although those can be obtained at a pharmacy.