Over eighty percent of adults in the United States visited the doctor at least once in 2019-2020. But, how do you actually know if you’re going to the doctor enough?
We’ve got you covered. Let’s go through how often should you go to the doctor.
How Often Should You Be Visiting Your Primary Care Physician?
As a general rule, you should visit your primary care doctor at least once a year. That way, your doctor can monitor your health and see if there are any actions you need to take to keep yourself even healthier.
Your doctor will also watch out for any major warning signs, to ensure that any major health conditions can be treated as soon as possible.
Depending on your age, you may need to increase the amount you visit based on the tests you need. For example, women over the age of sixty-five require an osteoporosis screening, while women over twenty-one require regular pap smears.
If you’re over fifty years old, your doctor may recommend that you visit more frequently. The same is true if you’re living with a chronic health condition.
And, of course, if you have a health concern, you’ll want to ask your doctor about it. Watching out for potential problems is one of the top reasons to go to the doctor.
If you don’t already have a doctor, look into your options for family physicians in your area. If you’re struggling with choosing a doctor, simply search for the ‘best doctor near me’.
How Often Should You See Specific Doctors?
There are also specific doctors you might need to see every year, to meet specialized needs. Usually, if you have problems with your vision, you’ll see your optometrist every year to see if your eyeglasses or contact lenses prescription needs to be updated or if any other problems have arisen.
Dentists usually recommend you come in for a cleaning every six months. And, if you have specialized needs, you may have to see your specialist more frequently in order to keep on top of any conditions you may be suffering from. People who are particularly pale or prone to skin conditions, for example, should make regular appointments with a dermatologist.
People with biologically female reproductive organs should make an appointment with an OB-GYN at least once a year. People between the ages of 45 and 50 should be seeing a gastroenterologist at least once a year because of the increased risk of colon cancer and other issues. People with biologically male reproductive organs should make an appointment with their urologist at least once every year.
How Often Should You Go to the Doctor? Now You Know
Clearly, the answer to how often should you go to the doctor depends based on your needs. If you’re unsure about how often you should be going, just ask your doctor what they think!
Do you need more health advice? Take a read through some of the other posts on this website today.