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From the start of the pandemic, health care professionals across the country have been concerned with the impact of missed preventive screenings and disease management would have on patient outcomes. The American Association for Cancer Research shared over 10 million preventive screenings were missed in the first year of the pandemic potentially leading to negative impacts down the road. The number of cancers that would have been caught in stage 2 are now presenting in stage 4.
The other areas that have also been negatively impacted by deferring care are heart disease, diabetes, joint replacement and behavioral health. As people struggled to stay active, the average person gained 29 pounds during the pandemic, increasing their probability of having greater challenges with the multiple health concerns.
There is a great anonymous quote that states, “If you don’t take time for your health/wellness, you will be forced to take time for your illness.” With that in mind, we believe everyone wants to be healthy but does not necessarily know where to begin. In a Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, 92% of Americans believe it is important to have an annual physical, but only 62% actually do. If you only see your primary care provider when you are sick, you could be shortchanging your health. Now is a great time to schedule your annual wellness visit to spot potential problems before they become more serious. Regular visits with your provider help to establish your unique baseline, what normal for one person might not be for another. So having your own track record for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels will help your provider spot any early signs of trouble.
These are some health screening guidelines from the National Institute of Health that can help you are your journey to wellness based on age:
In addition to the screenings everyone needs, women should have an annual pelvic and breast exam.
Until age 50, most men can follow the general health guidelines. This is a great time to take some baseline measurements for comparison later.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance will cover the entire cost of procedures like immunizations, cancer screenings, and blood tests. So if you haven’t had a regular checkup recently, make an appointment now. Remember to take time for your health/wellness now so you will not be forced to take time for your illness later.
Pamela Floyd is the chief compliance officer, director of risk, quality and plant operations for Mad River Community Hospital.
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