5 essential reasons to schedule a wellness exam

When was the last time you had a wellness exam with your primary care provider? If you're not sure, now is the perfect time to schedule one at SIU Medicine. Our organization is home to dozens of experienced primary care providers who offer comprehensive care—from annual physicals and routine wellness visits to preventive screenings, follow-up appointments, specialist referrals and more. 

There are plenty of benefits to staying up to date with your primary care visits. Here are five.

5 reasons to schedule regular wellness exams 

1. Wellness exams and preventive screenings prolong your life.

Studies show that preventive health screenings and wellness check-ups increase life expectancy. How often you schedule these appointments depends on things like your current health and specific risk factors for chronic disease.

“The goal is to stay on top of your health and prevent things from happening, or catching them as early as possible to prevent long-term damage,” said Dr. Jayna Patel, at SIU Family Medicine in Taylorville.

If you’re healthy and don’t have any major risk factors, you may not need a full physical every year, but you shouldn’t skip it altogether. Your provider can help you determine which tests and exams are right for you (and when).

2. Wellness exams prevent and reduce your risk of long-term health problems.

In almost all cases, preventing a health problem is less stressful and less expensive than treating one. Regular wellness exams with your primary care provider—in addition to preventive lifestyle behaviors such as regular exercise and healthy eating—improve the quality of your life by helping you avoid disease and dysfunction.

3. Wellness exams can detect illnesses that could otherwise go unnoticed.

Wellness visits improve and promote access to preventive screenings for cancer and other conditions. This is essential, because chronic health conditions can sometimes progress for years before signs and symptoms appear.

“Breast, colon and lung cancers are some of the more commonly caught diseases through routine screenings,” said Dr. Patel. “Screening based on a patient’s lifestyle and family history can help detect issues like diabetes and high cholesterol early.”

Catching problems during an early asymptomatic stage can improve outcomes by streamlining care and helping you receive necessary interventions and treatments sooner.

4. Wellness exams allow you and your provider to establish medical baselines and keep your medical records updated.

Regular wellness exams keep your medical records up to date and ensure that follow-up visits and other procedures are appropriately scheduled.

The regular wellness exam also helps you develop a good relationship with your provider. This can improve the quality of your care and communication, and make it easier to discuss important issues (such as lifestyle modifications).

5. Wellness exams save you money!

Many insurance plans pay for a yearly physical. Some insurance companies and employers even offer benefits to those who get wellness exams yearly. But even the small amount of money you may invest in routine primary care visits can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your life, since we’ve already seen how these visits promote early detection, disease prevention and up-to-date treatment plans.

Is it time to schedule a wellness exam with your primary care provider?

At SIU Medicine, our primary care providers can help you manage your day-to-day health care needs in a way that allows you to take ownership of your health and remain informed about your wellness needs.

Whether you’re due for your next check-up or would like a referral to one of our many highly trained specialists, we encourage you to call SIU Medicine at 217-545-8000.