There are many misconceptions about what a routine doctor's visit can accomplish and what its limitations may be. If sudden death cannot be reliably predicted or prevented, what is the point of seeing the doctor at all? It turns out that many conditions can be readily detected or prevented, while others are simply beyond the limits of screening tests or examination.
First, it matters whether the visit is truly "routine," meaning there are no symptoms and the person seeing the doctor feels entirely well. On the other hand, if you set up the appointment to evaluate a symptom, ongoing problem or concern, everything changes: The visit is no longer "routine," and what goes on in the office may be focused on the complaints or medical conditions that you have.
Even in the absence of symptoms, many physicians recommend routine, yearly doctor visits and physicals for adults of all ages. Such visits actually have modest goals:
Keep in mind that even if you do have an abnormality detected on physical examination, it is often of little importance. For example, just as a freckle is technically not completely normal skin, minor abnormalities are often detected that have no bearing on your health. A lipoma (a benign tumor made up largely of fat) can cause a lump under the skin almost anywhere on the body; to be sure it's not something serious (like cancer), it may be important to have it removed, but an examination that detects a lipoma is an example of how an abnormal examination does not always mean you have a disease.
Healthy people need only a few periodic screening tests. Some should be done every year, others only once every 10 years (such as colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer). For example, for a healthy woman over age 49, the general recommendations include:
That's it for people who report no health problems, symptoms or risk factors for specific diseases. Based on the evidence, other tests, such as EKGs, chest X-rays and blood tests are not routinely recommended for anyone without symptoms or risk factors for a particular illness.
Updating immunizations for the healthy adult is also important.
Physicians integrate the information you provide from your symptoms, past health problems, physical examination and testing to detect disease or a risk of disease. If you feel well and have a normal exam, it's likely you are healthy. Unfortunately, many conditions can escape detection even with the best medical care. Sudden death may occur from heart disease or a burst aneurysm (among other reasons) despite a recent normal physical examination. It's a myth that a doctor can detect any health problem you have just by examining you.
Your doctor may ask you to come back yearly for a routine physical, but the real impact of such visits may be limited. It's best not to rely on routine doctors' visits to provide a guarantee of health. On the other hand, at your visit you may learn of risk factors for disease you did not know you had, or discover that what you thought was "just getting old" was really symptoms of arthritis or depression.If you have symptoms or are worried about a particular health issue, see your physician. But for truly routine visits, understand that there are significant limitations for the detection of disease. Unfortunately, a normal examination does not mean you are absolutely healthy and, conversely, even if you have an abnormality on your examination or testing, many findings turn out to be unimportant.
For many, having a routine physical helps establish a relationship with their health care providers, a process that can come in handy if you ever are sick. Establishing a relationship with a health care provider may be among the best reasons to have a visit to your doctor, even when you are feeling well.
