About 90% of Americans skip potentially lifesaving medical screenings. What are preventive health exams? Think blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, Pap smears, prostate exams, and other screenings based on your age, gender, lifestyle, and family history. They help catch problems early, before they become serious.
In other words, getting regular checkups equals being proactive instead of reactive. See Stuart Felzer, MD, FACP, at Premium Healthcare, LLC, in Wilmington, Delaware, to schedule a preventive health exam on a yearly basis.
The main benefit of annual preventive health exams is early detection of diseases, thereby reducing your risk of severe, even life-threatening, complications. Because of this, preventive care can save you time, money, and distress. It also offers peace of mind.
Examples of the various forms of preventive care available at Premium Health include:
High cholesterol affects about 71 million Americans. It’s a risk factor for heart disease, a heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening complications when left untreated.
At Premium Health, we offer on-site cholesterol screenings (blood tests) to determine if you have high lipid levels and whether you should make lifestyle changes or take medications.
High blood pressure is also a heart disease risk factor, and it affects nearly half of adults in the United States. A blood pressure screening is a simple, quick, and painless process — yet highly important. We use a cuff and a blood pressure machine or a stethoscope to assess your blood pressure numbers.
Diabetes may affect up to 15% of Americans. Detecting prediabetes can help you make the necessary changes to avoid Type 2 diabetes. Early diabetes detection and blood sugar control reduce the risk of nerve damage, eye damage, kidney problems, foot issues, and other diabetes-related complications.
Preventive health exams often include blood testing, urine tests, tissue swabs, and other lab tests that help detect disease risk factors, nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and other abnormalities.
Your lab results determine if you need treatment to optimize your overall health and well-being.
Prostate exams help detect prostate cancer, a condition affecting about 1 in 8 men during their lifetime. A prostate cancer screening may include blood testing and/or a digital rectal exam. You may need a prostate screening beginning at age 45 or 50.
In women, pelvic exams and Pap tests screen for gynecological conditions, including cervical cancer (affecting 6 in 100,000 women in the United States), which is highly treatable when detected early. We also offer sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and treatment.
At Premium Health, we provide breast exams and recommendations/referrals for mammograms and other breast cancer screening tools. These screenings are important because 1 in 8 women develops breast cancer during their lifetime, and early detection saves lives. You might need mammograms beginning at age 40 or 45.
Vaccinations help protect you against becoming ill or developing diseases, some of which may be life-threatening. We offer an array of preventive vaccines that match your specific needs.
About 1 in 24 men and 1 in 26 women develop colorectal cancer. Colon cancer screening (think colonoscopies) can detect cancerous tissues in your lower digestive tract before they spread to other areas and become life-threatening. You may need a colonoscopy beginning at age 45.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, affecting 1 in 5 Americans. Dr. Felzer screens for skin cancer to identify it in its early form, so you can get the treatment needed to eliminate the cancer and prevent it from spreading.
Do a skin check at home routinely, and report any suspicious lesions to Dr. Felzer.
Numerous other health screenings are available. Examples include an electrocardiogram (EKG), stress testing, vision tests, hearing screenings, neurological exams, and more. Dr. Felzer lets you know which health screenings are appropriate for you.
Maintaining a healthy weight can dramatically lessen your chance of developing a chronic disease. We offer medical weight loss solutions that help you achieve your goals.
Schedule a preventive health exam with us yearly for a routine checkup or as needed if you develop new or unusual symptoms.
But you might not need all of the available health screenings every year. Talk with Dr. Felzer to determine which you’re due for, depending on your age, gender, lifestyle, medical history, and other factors.
Ask about our concierge service and schedule a preventive health exam at Premium Health by contacting us at our Wilmington, Delaware, office today.
