We’ve all heard the old saying, “An ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure” but often we don’t apply this reasoning to the most precious thing in life – our health. 

I wish I had a dime for every time I heard a seriously ill patient say, “I should have gone to the doctor sooner.”   Sadly, many of these patients might not have found themselves in the hospital if they had had regular physical examinations.   A physical exam is an important health screening which can give you peace of mind and identify health problems in their early stages, when they are most treatable.  Ask yourself, when was the last time you had a physical examination?  It doesn’t matter if it was three years ago, ten years ago or so long ago that you don’t even remember.  The time to make an appointment is now. 

As a Physician Assistant in training, I hear a variety of excuses from people who don’t get regular physical exams.  Although I am still a student, I’ve seen enough to know the benefits of regular physical exams outweigh any excuse you may have to not get one (and when it comes to excuses, I’ve heard them all!)  I’ve listed below the five most common excuses and taken the time to show you how they don’t hold water. 

I’m young and don’t need a physical.  Everyone, regardless of age, needs a regular physical exam.  Illnesses and diseases don’t discriminate and can strike anyone at any age.  If you are between the ages of 20 and 40 and not experiencing any type of symptoms, you should get a physical exam every two to three years.  After age 40, exams should be schedules every one to two years. 

I’m afraid of what the doctor might find.  Of course you are, we all are!  This is the most common reason people don’t get regular physicals.  If you remember anything you read here, remember this:  Hiding from or ignoring a potential problem can make the difference in whether it is curable or fatal.  Modern medicine is amazing and many diseases can be treated easily as long as they are caught early.  Illnesses that progress without diagnosis and treatment are most likely to cause serious complications and death. 

I don’t like my doctor.  The relationship you have with your doctor is one of the most important relationships in your life.  He or she should be someone you feel comfortable talking with about anything.  If you do not have this type of relationship, find a new doctor.  If you don’t know where to look, talk to friends and family or surf the internet.  Two sites I recommend are www.findadoc.com and www.doctor.webmd.com. 

I don’t have insurance and can’t afford a physical.  I’ll be the first to admit that health care is expensive but I’ll also be the first to tell you that help is available.  Most towns and cities have clinics or family planning centers that base their fee according to your income.  If you prefer to remain with your regular physician, you can ask him or her to perform a limited exam as long as you have no pre-existing health conditions. 

I’m too embarrassed.  Don’t be.  Health care workers are used to various degrees of nakedness.  When we are examining you we are looking for signs and symptoms and our focus is your physical health, not your physical body.  Doctors are trained to protect your modesty but if by some chance you feel exposed during an exam, please speak up.  A good doctor will appreciate your honesty and take steps to ensure you are comfortable. 

A physical exam is the first step in identifying and treating diseases while they are still in their early stages.  Many diseases don’t present symptoms while others present symptoms that can be easily explained or ignored.  High blood pressure (often referred to as “the silent killer”) is most often discovered during a routine physical exam.  Fatigue is often blamed on stress or lack of sleep when it can actually be an indication of a thyroid disorder and in many cases, cancer can be well progressed before symptoms appear.  It is far better to prevent a disease and treat it early before it progresses. 

If you’re still hesitating on making an appointment, let me leave you with one last thought.  Last week I had a physical exam and I’ll be honest, there were quite a few things I would have rather been doing.  But I scheduled my appointment because I enjoy seeing my son kick a soccer ball into the goal, smack a baseball into the outfield and practice dunking a basketball.  I did it because I want to be here for him.  I want to see him graduate from high school and college, I want to walk him down the aisle when he gets married and I want to be a grandmother who spoils his children.  If that means being poked and prodded every few years and enduring a few days of anxiety while waiting for the results of routine blood tests, that’s fine with me.  It’s a small price to pay for the gift of good health.