Spring is in the air, a time of new energy and focus. You want to take a fresh look at your health and well-being as you spend more time outdoors and plan exciting trips for summer. Seeing a primary care provider (PCP) is the best way to “spring clean” your health.
Why is Preventative Care Important?
When it comes to maintaining optimal health, prevention is key. By staying up to date with regular checkups and screenings, you and your care provider can potentially catch concerns before they become more serious. Below are important checkups and screenings to speak with your primary care physician about.
Annual Primary Care Visit
An annual visit to your primary care provider (PCP) differs from a sick visit, where you go in for noticeable symptoms. Even if you feel healthy, this checkup allows your PCP to review your overall well-being, assess risk factors, and catch potential health issues early. During the visit, your PCP will:
- Check vital signs – Monitoring blood pressure and heart rate.
- Review vaccinations – Ensuring you’re up to date on important immunizations.
- Discuss health concerns – Addressing any symptoms or lifestyle changes.
- Order necessary tests – Blood work or screenings based on your personal and family medical history.
By staying proactive with an annual checkup, you take an important step in maintaining long-term health and preventing future complications.
Blood Tests
How often you need blood work depends on your age, health status, and risk factors. For most healthy individuals, annual blood panels may not be necessary, but they are often recommended more frequently if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or hypertension. Your primary care provider (PCP) may order tests such as:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Evaluates overall blood count to pinpoint anemia and infections and detect other concerns.
- Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) – Assesses the health of your kidneys, your blood sugar, and electrolyte levels.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – Provides a broader look at liver health.
- Lipid Panel – Measures cholesterol levels to assess the health of your heart.
Your primary care provider will determine the best testing schedule for you based on your personal and family medical history.
Cancer Screenings
Early detection saves lives. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the best ways to reduce cancer-related deaths are to adopt healthy lifestyle habits and follow recommended screening guidelines. Your primary care provider will help you stay on track with necessary screenings based on your age and risk factors.
- Breast Cancer – Your PCP will perform a breast exam during your annual checkup. Mammograms are recommended starting for women at age 40.
- Cervical Cancer – Screening begins for women at age 21.
- Colorectal Cancer – Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer for men and women in the U.S. Screenings should be conducted beginning at age 45.
- Skin Cancer – Skin exams should be conducted annually for men and women.
This is not a comprehensive list. Talk to your primary care provider about necessary screenings to prevent cancer.
Immunizations
Are you up to date on your needed immunizations? Vaccinations help prevent the spread of preventable diseases and keep your immune system functioning optimally. Here are the most important vaccines to stay up to date with each year:
- Flu vaccine annually
- COVID-19 as recommended
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis every 10 years
- Shingles Vaccine after the age of 50
Your PCP or pharmacist can address any questions or concerns you have and review your vaccine history to ensure you’re up to date. Integrity offers the dT (tetanus-diphtheria), flu, and Hepatitis B vaccines at all our urgent care clinics.
Mental Health Check
Your mental and physical health are interconnected. Your annual checkup is a great opportunity to discuss any mental health concerns with your primary care provider and seek professional support if needed.
Primary Care with Integrity
Integrity is excited to announce the launch of our new primary care services in March 2025 with in-person visits in Copperas Cove. Our goal is to make “spring cleaning” your health more accessible than ever with preventative care, health screenings, annual physicals, and chronic disease management all with the same Integrity team you trust.
For added convenience, Integrity also offers virtual primary care services, available to patients anywhere in Texas. This telehealth option allows you to connect with a trusted provider from the comfort of your home. Learn more about our primary care services and schedule your appointment today.
