You may not look forward to them, but periodic health examinations are an important part of maintaining your health. Generally, these exams should be scheduled every 2 years during your 50s and annually after age 60. They are especially important as you get older, and they allow you and your physician to identify medical problems early. Sometimes problems can be identified before you develop symptoms or at early stages. We know that early detection is important and often results in the most successful treatment of conditions and diseases. Also, the preventative care you get at a check-up reduces you risk for developing certain diseases.
Preparation is the key to getting the most out of these health exams. Know what to tell your physician and what questions to ask. A little advance preparation in these areas can help your physician more effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat any existing or anticipated problems. Information about your personal medical history and that of your family can be very helpful to your physician. Here’s some information to include:
Allergies. List any substances you’re allergic or sensitive to. These could include medications, food, pollen — note the season that it affects you — mold, dust, insect stings, adhesive tape, latex and dyes used with X-ray examinations. Also note whether you’ve had complications from anesthesia.
Personal medical history. Record any illness or treatment that required hospitalization, surgery or emergency care. One by one, list the condition, treatment, hospital where the treatment took place and date. If possible, keep copies of surgical and biopsy reports as part of your personal records.
Family medical history. Genes that run in your family may increase your risk of certain diseases. If your physician knows who in your family had what diseases, you may be able to reduce your risk of developing the same problems. Family means blood relatives, including brothers and sisters, father and mother, and grandparents. Information about aunts and uncles could be helpful, too, if you have access to it.
Record each family member’s name and beside it note your relationship to that person, his or her health conditions, current age or age at death and the cause of death.
Personal immunization record. Keep a personal immunization record. Note the year you were most recently vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, pneumonia and flu (influenza).
Personal medication record. Tell your physician about all of the medicine you take. Include prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements. Various drugs can cause problems when taken together. If you’re an older adult, you’re more susceptible to these problems because of your changing body chemistry and the increased number of medications you may need.
At the very least, tell your physician the name of each drug you take, along with the dose, how often you take it and at what time of day. Be certain to mention over-the-counter medications and herbal preparations. To make sure there are no mistakes in identifying medications you’re taking, consider bringing them in their original containers so that your physician can review them with you.
Before your exam, think about what you want to discuss. Prepare a brief list of your main concerns, and rank them in order of importance. This makes good use of limited time, and will help you focus on the issues that matter most. At the top of the list, put one or two problems you’re most concerned about. Then identify less worrisome issues. Don’t overlook emotional problems. Make a note to ask your physician about any continuing depression, nervousness or stress. It’s a good idea to share with your physician any life circumstances, such as an illness in the family, financial worries or job difficulties, that may be affecting your health. This helps your physician to see your health in the context of your life.
If you’ve been having any unusual symptoms, tell your doctor about them as clearly as you can. Some symptoms you don’t want to ignore include:
Be ready to answer questions such as how long you’ve had the problem, how often it occurs, what brings it on, what makes it better or worse and whether it’s associated with other signs and symptoms.
Prepare to take equal responsibility with your physician for the success of your visit. Expect to ask all of your questions and have them answered. But remember, too, that the physician’s time may be limited. This is another reason your list comes in handy. Focus on issues that matter most to you. Questions you may want to ask include:
What is my risk of heart disease? Heart disease, including heart attacks and congestive heart failure, is the most common cause of death in the United States for both men and women.
What are my chances of developing cancer? Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. For men, the most common causes of cancer death are cancers of the lungs, the prostate and the colon. For women, they’re cancers of the lungs, the breasts and the colon.
What is my risk of a stroke? This is the No. 3 killer among older adults in the United States. You increase your risk if you smoke, have high blood pressure or have unhealthy levels of fat (cholesterol) in your blood.
Am I likely to develop diabetes? About 1 in 10 people age 65 and older will develop diabetes.
Do I need all of the medications I’m taking? If you have concerns about the cost or side effects of these drugs, tell your physician.
When the physician orders a test. How is the test done? What are the risks? What does it typically cost after my insurance provider pays its share?
After a diagnosis. What’s the long-term outlook for this condition? What happens to most patients? Can you provide or suggest any reading materials? What can I do to improve my health? Are there classes I can attend or support groups I can join?
If your physician prescribes a medicine. How soon will the medicine begin to work? What are the possible side effects? How long will I have to take the medicine? Can a generic brand be substituted? Will this new drug pose any potential problems with the medications I’m already taking?