December 2024

You know you should see a doctor for regular checkups. After all, there’s evidence that preventive care reduces your risk for diseases, disabilities, and early death, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, if you’re like millions of Americans, something may be stopping you from getting the preventive care you need.

Here are some common reasons people put off seeing their doctor for preventive care and solutions to get you past each obstacle.

You don’t think preventive care matters (but it does).

Just because you feel fine doesn’t mean everything is okay. High blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease, often has no symptoms. That’s why doctors call it the silent killer.

During preventive care visits, your primary care provider will do a complete physical exam, checking your heart rate, blood pressure, and weight. They can also order blood work to check for high cholesterol and diabetes. If they find something concerning, they can start treatment before it gets worse.

Solution: To see your preventive health checklist for your age and gender, use the MyHealthfinder tool from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at https://health.gov/myhealthfinder. It will tell you which screenings, vaccinations, and health issues you should talk to your doctor about during a preventive care visit.

You have a fear of needles.

Between 20% to 30% of adults have some fear of needles, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.

Solution: Let your doctor or nurse know that you are afraid of needles. Chances are, they’ve helped other people with the same fear. They may numb the site with ice or numbing cream first to help prevent any pain.

You feel judged by your doctor.

Medical shaming is a thing, reports Psychology Today, especially if you are obese or have severe mental illness. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t find a caring and compassionate health care provider.

Solution: Reach out to trusted family and friends for doctor recommendations, and then check with your insurance company to make sure they are in-network. You can also schedule a telehealth visit first to gauge how you get along.

After your first visit, ask yourself these questions: Did I feel comfortable? Did the doctor respectfully listen to me and answer my questions? Did they spend enough time with me? If you answered “no” to any of these, then this doctor may not be a good choice.

You have anxiety over medical appointments.

Some people get so nervous during a doctor visit that they get “white-coat hypertension” — their blood pressure goes up even though they don’t have high blood pressure.

Solution: Get a good night’s sleep to avoid medical appointment anxiety. A lack of sleep can make anxiety worse. It’s also a good idea to go caffeine-free the day of your visit. Caffeine can worsen anxiety and elevate your blood pressure.

You can’t get an appointment.

The average wait time to schedule a new patient appointment with a doctor is 26 days, according to a report in the Washington Post.

Solution: Doctors aren’t the only medical professionals who can serve as your primary care provider. Other options for preventive care include seeing a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

You can’t get to the doctor’s office, or you don’t have enough time.

If you live in a rural area or don’t have access to a car, getting to a doctor’s office isn’t always easy. Even when you can get there, you get frustrated by the wait times. About 30% of outpatient visits had waits of 20 minutes or longer, according to an analysis published in Health Affairs.

Solution: Ask your doctor whether a telehealth visit is an option. With at-home medical devices, your doctor can do remote monitoring of important health measures, such as heart rate and blood pressure. Even if the doctor keeps you waiting, you can do other things until they log into your virtual meeting.