Routine Checkups That May Be More Important Than You Realize

It's usually recommended that adults visit their family physician every year or even more often, depending on their age and overall health; your own doctor can tell you how often you should visit him or her, in order to monitor and protect your healthcare concerns. However, there are some routine checkups that many adults put off having, simply because they don't understand the importance of those checkups. Note a few of those here and why such checkups are vital for good health, and then ask your physician or healthcare professional how often they should be done in your case.

Eye exam

Even if your vision seems fine, you want to get regular eye exams; an optometrist can note signs of developing eye conditions, such as dimming vision, glaucoma, or cataracts. This can allow you to get corrective lenses or to even have a surgical procedure, if needed, to keep a developing condition from getting worse. An eye exam also allows a doctor to see tiny blood vessels very clearly, so he or she can note signs of vascular disease or damage.

Foot exam

The way your feet are shaped can affect your posture, which then also affects the bones and muscles of the rest of your body. If your feet have fallen arches, painful calluses, or other such conditions, this could actually mean that you're putting more stress on your joints and back, which may lead to pain and stiffness, or even arthritis. A podiatrist can spot developing problems with your feet and then recommend treatment options, in order to avoid these issues.

Hearing

A person can actually be losing their hearing and not realize that they may need a hearing aid or even surgical intervention. To ensure your hearing is always protected, have a hearing test and ear exam done as often as needed.

Dental

As with your eyes, feet, and ears, you don't want to wait until you have obvious problems with your teeth and mouth to have them checked! Developing cavities, growing enamel wear, misaligned teeth, signs of oral infection, and other conditions should be addressed as soon as possible. If a wisdom tooth is impacted, it should be removed so that it doesn't damage other teeth, even if it's not bothersome to you. A good dental exam can also tell your healthcare professional about your health overall; he or she can note signs of dehydration and malnutrition, for example. This is why it's vital to have this type of checkup, even if your teeth look healthy to you.