I Had an Abnormal Pap Smear. Now What?
When you’re told you have an abnormal Pap smear, cervical cancer may be the first thing that pops into your head. But that’s rarely the case. However, you may need additional testing to see what’s going on.
The Importance of Having an Annual Physical Even if You Feel Fine
If you’ve been feeling fine, energetic, and well-rested, you might be thinking, “What’s the point of seeing a doctor?”
After all, doctors are there for sick people, not healthy people, right? Not necessarily.
Unfortunately, you can have health problems and feel fine. Many conditions — including the leading cause of mortality in the United States, heart disease — don’t show symptoms until the disease advances, making it harder to manage at that stage.
The trick is to stay one step ahead of disease, before symptoms appear.
Our expert, Dr. Vijaya Nama, explains how an annual physical can catch disease early on to ensure you live a longer, healthier life.
You’ll have a comprehensive medical history
We record and monitor changes, year by year. Dr. Nama gets to know you better and puts together a complete picture of your health. So if something looks off in the labs next year, she has more clues as to what’s going on.
For example, if you come in with cognitive issues, and Dr. Nama has records of your blood tests from the previous year showing a deficiency in your B vitamins, this can save you a lot of time and expensive tests. Deficiencies like this, over time, can lead to cognitive issues and are sometimes mistaken for something more serious.
You might prevent the onset of chronic disease
With conditions such as type 2 diabetes that creep in slowly over years of elevated blood sugar levels, you might not know you have it until it has fully developed. Type 2 diabetes often shows signs only when blood sugar levels are dangerously high and the damage is extensive.
However, there’s some good news: If caught early, when blood sugar levels are high but don’t yet meet the threshold for a diabetes diagnosis, we may be able to reverse the condition with dietary and lifestyle changes.
In the case of hypertension, which also doesn’t show symptoms until it’s in its advanced stages, early detection can help prevent damage to your blood vessels and heart.
You can manage chronic conditions
If you have already been diagnosed with a condition that requires ongoing care, you may need to adjust the dosage over time or switch to new medications for optimal results. An annual check-up lets us keep a close eye on how you’re responding to treatment, so we can make changes when needed.
Schedule your annual physical with us
Get peace of mind by contacting us to schedule an appointment at our office in Mesquite, Texas. Dr. Nama reviews your medical history, performs a physical examination, and may order blood tests depending on your needs.
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