How Often Should I See a Primary Care Physician?

When it comes to your health, being proactive is much better than being reactive. Attending regular checkups and screenings can help doctors spot any potential health concerns that may appear in the future. The earlier your primary care provider identifies a concern, the better it can be prevented.

So, how often should you see a primary care physician? The answer depends on your age, health status and current medical needs.

Let’s talk more about what a primary care provider does, how often you should see one for different types of visits, and the overall benefits that regularly seeing your primary care physician can provide.

The Role of a Primary Care Provider

Your primary care provider is the doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner who oversees your overall health.

They are there to provide preventive care through annual checkups, health screenings and vaccinations. Your primary care provider is the person you should turn to for diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses, such as the flu, as well as infections and minor injuries.

How often you see your primary care physician depends on whether you need help managing chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, through routine monitoring and treatment strategies such as medications and lifestyle changes.

If you develop a specific health concern, your primary care physician can refer you to specialists such as dermatologists, cardiologists or neurologists.

Preparing for Your Routine Checkup

No matter your current health status, you should visit your primary care provider at least once a year for an annual wellness exam. An annual wellness exam's purpose is to evaluate your current health and set you up to continue feeling your best in the future.

An annual wellness exam normally includes the following:

• Annual physical exam to check your current vitals — blood pressure and heart rate — as well as height and weight
• Assessment of potential health risk factors, including family history and lifestyle factors like diet, physical activity and smoking status, and provide advice on how to lower your risks
• Medication management to go over the medications you are currently taking and make sure you are taking the proper dosage
• Review and update your medical history, including any recent health issues in your immediate family
• Screenings for certain diseases via blood tests and recommendations for other screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies

An annual wellness exam is a proactive health visit that allows your primary care provider to gauge your health over the last year.

This is different from a sick visit when you visit your doctor for help treating a condition you already have, like the flu or strep throat. An annual wellness exam is also different from a follow-up visit, which would be scheduled if your doctor diagnoses you with a chronic condition like diabetes and you need to visit your primary care provider for continual care.

How Often Should You See Your Primary Care Provider?

How often you should see your primary care physician depends on the type of visit you need and your current health status.

1. Annual Wellness Visits

You should see your primary care provider at least once a year for your annual wellness visit. This type of visit is all about preventive care, as it allows your provider to assess your health and detect potential health issues early.

Your annual wellness visit is also a great opportunity to ask your doctor questions about your health or recommendations for lifestyle changes.

2. Sick Visits

A sick visit to your AdventHealth Primary Care+ doctor is for when you have an illness or minor injury that needs treatment. This can be for common viruses like the flu, infections like strep throat or minor injuries like a sprained ankle.

If you or a family member are experiencing breathing difficulties, chest pain, have lost consciousness or have a major injury such as a broken leg, these are more urgent concerns that require a trip to your nearest emergency room, with a follow-up to your primary care provider to let them know what happened and so that they can offer continued care.

3. Well-Woman Exams

You can also visit your primary care provider for a well-woman exam. If you or your family has a history of conditions such as cervical cancer, breast cancer or STDs, you should talk to your doctor about your testing schedule.

Generally speaking, here’s a list of recommended tests based on age:

• Women aged 21 to 29: Annual health exams with a Pap smear every three years
• Women aged 30 to 65: Annual health exams with a Pap smear and HPV test every five years or an HPV test alone every three years
• Women over 65: Continue the examination schedule and get additional screenings based on risk factors

4. Prescription Medication Management

Another determinant of how often you should see a primary care physician is if you are on any medications for chronic conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.

Medication management services are crucial to supporting your long-term health. Regular follow-up visits allow your primary care provider to monitor how well your medications are working and if any changes need to be made to the medication itself or its dosage. And your provider can answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding medication side effects and alternative options.

Benefits of Seeing a Primary Care Provider Regularly

Being proactive about your health and understanding how often you should see a primary care physician offers many benefits, including:

• Better management of chronic diseases
• Early detection of health conditions through screenings and exams
• Ensuring your medications are correct and at the right dosage
• Establishing a long-term relationship with a doctor who knows your medical history
• Getting help to stop detrimental lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol use
• Receiving needed vaccinations against serious diseases
• Learning healthy habits like diet and stress management to help prevent health issues
• Lowering health care costs by preventing severe illnesses
• Receiving referrals to specialists when needed

Be Proactive and Visit Your Primary Care Physician

When you’re proactive about your health, you set yourself up for a longer, healthier life. Having a primary care provider you know and trust will make it easy to see them every year for your annual wellness visit to help keep you healthy for many years to come. Schedule your annual wellness visit with AdventHealth Primary Care+ and get started on your journey to better health today.