Regular health screenings are an essential part of preventive care. Routine screenings supplement my hands-on care and help patients maintain wellness beyond check-ups. Screenings target specific areas and systems of the body and results identify potential markers that could become serious health problems.
Prioritize Your Routine Health Screenings
Many people avoid regular health screenings because they do take time, often require a separate appointment, and sometimes call for extensive preparation. If you feel fine, it’s easy to talk yourself out of getting tested for possible health complications.
Screenings, though, are just that – an opportunity to discover if something is brewing within your body before its symptoms become obvious and harder to treat. If your doctor recommends a screening because of your age, genetics, or risks, take them seriously and follow through.
Common Routine Health Screenings
Some routine health screenings are done easily in my office and can be as basic as a blood draw or observation and form completion. These include:
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Developmental delays
- Autism
- Depression
Other screenings call for more invasive efforts and require an outside specialist to conduct the testing. These efforts can be daunting, but every test I recommend to my patients is important and a step toward finding out what’s happening within their systems. Specialist screenings can include:
- Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
- DXA scan for osteoporosis
- Mammogram for breast cancer
- Pap smear for cervical cancer
Screenings Tell Your Doctor What She Needs to Know
Regular health screenings are intended to establish a baseline that represents your overall health, what “normal” means for you, and when there are obvious signs that something isn’t right. Women’s healthcare, for example, involves many layers of wellness, from hormone fluctuation to breast health to fertility. Basic healthcare for a woman is further complicated by genetics, age, pregnancy and breastfeeding (or lack thereof), bone density, nutrition, and so much more.
One of the most important lessons a person can have is with their doctor. My patients know and trust that I have their best interests at heart and that my goal is to treat you thoroughly and with close attention to your individual needs. I want you to live your best life every day, and screenings can help us reach that goal together.
Visit Dr. Maria Swetech to Discuss Routine Health Screenings
As a doctor of osteopathic medicine, I fully believe in seeing my patients as a whole. I’m not focusing on only one symptom or complaint, I am evaluating your entire health history, lifestyle, and risk factors. The work is about identifying why you’re experiencing what you’re experiencing and ordering the screenings that will provide us with answers.
Allow me to help and support you on your care journey. Contact me, Dr. Maria, to schedule an appointment and discuss preventive care, health screenings, and what’s next for your well-being.
Nothing in this blog is official medical advice. See your doctor for customized care.
