Taking Care of You on National Doctor’s Day

Today is  National Doctor’s Day, a day set aside to appreciate your doctors. According to Holiday Insights, the day began back in 1933 when Eudora Brown Almond created the holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the usage of general anesthesia in surgery. Nowadays, we take many of our current medical advances for granted, but of course our overall good health is made better by the efforts of doctors, both now and in the past.

If you have a doctor’s appointment today, it would be nice to bring flowers or a card of thanks. While it’s a day to appreciate our healthcare providers, it also seems like a great day to remember to make appointments with these professionals! Here are some healthcare providers that you  might consider contacting if you are due for their services:

• Pediatrician. Depending on their ages, our children should be seeing a doctor for regular checkups every year or two or, in the case of babies, every few months. If your child hasn’t had a regular checkup in a while, it’s a good idea to make an appointment; the doctor can double check that everything is progressing as it should be, and can also talk to you about any concerns that you may have about your child’s physical or mental health. He can also advise you about any vaccinations that your child might be due for.
• General Practitioner. You should also be getting yourself checked out every few years! You should have your blood pressure checked every two years, or more often if you’ve had high blood pressure in the past, and you may also be due to have your cholesterol checked or have other bloodwork done. If it’s been more than two years since you’ve had a general physical, give your internist or family doctor a call and make an appointment.
• Gynecologist. If you are currently pregnant or if you have a baby, then you’ve probably seen your gynecologist quite recently, but otherwise, check the calendar to see when you’re due. Depending on your age and health history, you should be having a pelvic exam done every one to three years; ask your doctor for her specific recommendations. Also, you may be ready to start going for mammograms; again, ask your doctor for advice about when you should be doing this.
• Specialists. If you have any health conditions, you may need to see specialists, such as a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, ear nose and throat specialist or other specialized health professionals. Find out when you need to go, and schedule appointments.
• Dentist. You and your children should be having your teeth cleaned every six months, or if you’ve had gum disease, more often. While many of us don’t like going to the dentist, regular visits can help prevent cavities and the need for extensive dental work, so call and make your next appointment today!

It can be overwhelming to think about going for medical appointments, particularly if you are overdue for a few different types. Once you have the appointments set, however, the first step is done and all you’ll need to do is show up for your medical care. You want to be around for a long time for your children, so don’t neglect your health; make the appropriate phone calls today!