A New Year signifies a fresh start. For some people, the New Year means achieving new goals like getting a college degree, getting married, or starting a family.
For others, the New Year is all about setting achievable health goals, adapting healthy dietary and exercising habits, and focusing on their overall wellness.
Regardless of what your New Year health goals are, you should ensure that you head into 2021 with a fresh mindset as well as a strong and healthy body. This is where annual physical exams come in.
In this blog, we will share some useful insights on the importance of annual physical checkups.
New Year Health Goals
How many times have you enthusiastically set New Year’s resolutions for yourself and forgotten all about them in less than a month? Trust us, we’ve all been in the same boat.
Often, most of us have a habit of setting unrealistic and unsustainable New Year health goals that force us to break our resolutions within the first few weeks.
In order to break this repetitive cycle, you need to set goals that will improve your overall health. Here are some realistic health goals you can set for yourself:
- Move more, sit less
- Eat whole foods
- Avoid sweetened beverages
- Take out more time for self-care
- Eat at home more often
- Spend more time outdoors
- Limit screen time
- Cut back on alcohol/smoking
- Stop body-shaming yourself
- Try meditation
The Benefits of an Annual Physical Exam
Before you proceed to accomplish your new health goals, you must ensure that your body is in the ideal condition to support these goals. An annual physical exam at the beginning of the New Year is a great way to find out more about your body.
Here are a few benefits of an annual physical exam:
- Overall health assessment: An annual physical exam allows a doctor to examine your entire body. A doctor will also review your family\’s medical history to determine whether there are any potential risk factors. A doctor will monitor your heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs to check for any abnormalities. A series of blood tests might also be administered for an in-depth look at your general health.
- Cancer screening: Cancer is the leading cause of most disease-related deaths around the world. A physical exam can screen for cancerous cells. Identifying cancer in its early stages can save your life. Based on the screening, a doctor will recommend further checkups with specialists as well as treatment options.
- Up-to-date with vaccinations: If you schedule an annual checkup, you will receive your scheduled vaccinations in your visit. Vaccinations like flu shots will help you survive common illnesses and diseases associated with the changing seasons. A doctor may recommend several other vaccines depending on your age, gender, and overall health.
Annual Physical Exams at Health One Family Medicine
To achieve your New Year health goals, you should get an annual examination at the beginning of the year. Health One Family Medicine specializes in annual checkups for the entire family. Visit our website or call at (469)262-5762 to book your appointment for an annual physical exam today. We hope to see you soon!