The Importance of Keeping Your Family's Annual Physicals, This Year More Than Ever

During the last year and a half, many people have avoided doctor’s offices. It made sense, for a time. When the pandemic was at its peak, there was reasonable concern that a doctor’s office might be a highly contagious place.

Actually, though, because of their medical expertise, health care providers are uniquely positioned to keep their offices safe and healthy. And skipping doctor’s appointments — including annual physicals — can heighten peoples’ likelihood of getting sick, meaning they end up at the doctor’s office anyway.

Here at Health Solutions, our team of medical experts strives to provide you with a safe, comfortable environment where you can receive your annual physical. This way, we can keep you up to date on preventive screenings and other key measures to keep you well.

To make it as convenient as possible for you to get your yearly physical, we have annual physical exam specialists at our offices in Tinley Park, Rockford, and Olympia Fields, Illinois, and Munster, Indiana.

Why does this yearly checkup matter so much? Let’s take a look.

What annual physicals do

When you visit your doctor once a year, you give them the opportunity to stay alongside you on your health journey. This accomplishes two primary goals.

Preventive medicine

First, it ensures that they can be applying the proper preventive medicine. Essentially, this means you’re getting regular medical care aimed at preventing a wide range of serious health conditions. And regular screenings play a critical part in preventive medicine.

When you come in for your annual physical, you give our team the chance to check you for a variety of common health concerns, including:

High blood pressure
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Various types of cancer
Mental health conditions

This helps us detect potentially dangerous conditions that don’t come with symptoms you would notice on your own. That includes both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, two of the most prevalent conditions in the United States — and two that directly impact your heart health.

Answered questions

Beyond giving us the chance to apply the proper screenings, your annual physical is an opportunity for you to get any health questions answered. If anything has been concerning you lately, your appointment provides a perfect time to discuss it with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate providers.

For many of us, the last year and a half has resulted in lifestyle changes. You might have stopped going to the gym because yours was closed or spent less time outdoors in an attempt to comply with local pandemic restrictions. You might be wondering about the impacts of the adjustments you’ve made — or any stress you’ve experienced over the last year.

You might also have questions about your children’s wellness. We offer pediatric physicals, too, so we can come alongside you to monitor your son or daughter’s physical and mental health and development.

Ultimately, we’re here to help. Our Health Solutions team can address all of your concerns and partner with you and your family to help you have the healthiest year possible.