I Feel Great! Do I Still Need an Annual Wellness Check?

An annual wellness visit tells a lot about your current health and can offer insight into your future health. Annual wellness visits allow you to check in yearly with a trusted health care provider who gets to know you over the years. 

Annual wellness visits are beneficial whether you’re in early adulthood or past retirement. You can trust board-certified physicians Clifton Etienne, MD, Michael Cavanagh, MD, and Flora Brewington, MD, to give you detailed yearly exams at Westmed Family Healthcare in Westminster, Colorado. 

Around 82% of people over 60 got an annual physical in the year preceding this survey, but fewer people under 60 reported getting one. Even if you’re young and in excellent health, annual wellness visits are beneficial. Here’s why: 

Learning about your health

An annual wellness visit involves a comprehensive physical exam and review of your health. Our team reviews any recent test results and asks you questions about your health and habits. 

The physical exam reviews your:

• Height and weight
• Vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure)
• Cholesterol 
• Blood sugar
• Skin health
• Reflexes
• Ears, nose, and throat

Westmed Family Healthcare has an on-site laboratory for blood tests, urinalysis, and other tests our team requests. In many cases, you can get lab results the same day. 

We can learn a lot about your health from the many tests involved in a physical exam. 

Staying connected with your provider

Consistent annual wellness exams build the foundation for a strong relationship with your trusted provider. Our team at Westmed Family Healthcare gets to know you and identifies trends in your health over time. 

This long-standing relationship might lead to a better health care outcome for you. By knowing your health at baseline, your primary care provider can identify unusual changes earlier. We can also help you stay on track with preventive care services like vaccinations, boosters, and risk-based screenings. 

Visiting your primary care provider for annual wellness visits leads to better continuity of care. Our team can connect you with trusted specialists if we determine you need specialty care. 

Building a healthier lifestyle

We give you personalized suggestions based on the information we gather during your annual wellness visit. Your provider tells you exactly what you can do to be healthier and reduce your disease risks. 

After requesting information about your current lifestyle and performing an exam, our experts can offer:

• Nutrition and diet advice
• Exercise recommendations tailored to your physical fitness
• Help with smoking cessation
• Weight loss guidance
• Recommendations for risk-based screenings 

When you come in for regular annual wellness visits, you can see the positive differences that result from the healthy changes you’ve made. 

Book your next wellness visit

You can schedule an annual wellness visit at Westmed Family Healthcare at any time of year convenient for you. Call Westmed Family Healthcare today to book an appointment or schedule one online anytime.