How to Start A Healthy, Happy Year
Why Annual Checkups Are Essential to Your New Year's Resolutions
People around the world celebrate a new year by making resolutions that consist of getting healthy and focusing on wellness. The resolutions are often about eating better, exercising, ending bad habits, or getting more sleep — all of which are important elements for maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
What's the best way to get started?
Even when you're tackling a new, healthier habit, it can be important to talk to your doctor first to gain important information about how your health condition could impact your progress or how you can begin a change in the safest manner possible. If you haven't yet had your Annual Wellness Visit, this could be the perfect time to schedule one. Plus, an annual checkup provides an opportunity to detect early signs of potential health issues, allows you to receive preventive care, and establishes a relationship with your primary care provider.
Not sure how to start the conversation or what questions to ask? MyHealthfinder is a great resource from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that can help you plan what questions to ask your doctor during a checkup. For example, if you're interested in losing weight, consider these questions to ask your doctor.
What is an Annual Wellness Visit?
To keep your New Year's resolutions and get the best start on the path to a healthier and happier you, it is wise to schedule an annual checkup with your doctor. An Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly appointment that allows your doctor to assess your overall wellness and enables your care team to maintain an updated picture of your current health to monitor for any changes. At this visit, your doctor can talk with you about the goals you want to set and how to best achieve them.
Welcoming the new year offers a great opportunity to schedule your annual physical. It focuses on preventative care, makes sure you're starting off the year in good health, and helps get a jump start on any resolutions and health goals.
What are the benefits of scheduling an annual doctor's visit?
- Learn if You're at Risk for Disease
- Find Health Problems Early
- Get Up to Date on Tests and Screenings
- Save Money
- Build a Relationship With Your Doctor
Going to an annual checkup is an important step in ensuring a healthier and happier life. Preventative care helps you to make healthy choices, which can improve your quality of life and reduce your risk of developing a chronic disease, according to the CDC. Chronic conditions are those such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. These conditions also increase your risk for severe illness from certain infectious diseases, like the flu and COVID-19.
Talking with your doctor is a great way to address concerns regarding one's health and gain information on how to improve daily habits and reach goals. Catching health issues early is essential as it leads to better recovery and, in many cases, will save you money.
3 tips for preparing for your annual checkup appointment:
- List medications and supplements that you are currently using.
- Note your family health history and your medical history.
- Prepare questions for your appointment.
Why choose ETSU Health for your primary care?
Our ETSU Health clinics offer care for your whole family, from Pediatrics, Family Medicine and Internal Medicine to behavioral health, nutritionists, and more. Our providers can help you best maintain your resolutions by understanding your physical, mental, social and behavioral needs.
Plus, we have specialists inside all of our primary care clinics!
If you want to change your diet or to set a new weight loss goal, one of our nutritionists can help you determine a safe and appropriate plan to help achieve your goals and better your health.
We also have Behavioral Health Consultants inside every primary care clinic who can often see you during the same visit as when you see your primary care doctor. Behavioral Health is medical care that helps manage emotions and behaviors. Our BHCs can help you manage stress, stop habits like smoking or vaping, and even get better sleep.
Talk to your ETSU Health primary care provider about how our BHCs can help you meet your resolutions.