Every Doctor's Appointment You Need to Make for the Whole Year
by Lexi Petronis, Glamour
"Stop procrastinating" isn't one of my 2013 resolutions. No, it's one of my entire life resolutions. Procrastination is why I am woefully late in having a double root canal (well, OK, procrastination and also just basic not-wanting-to-do-it-ness).
So here's an idea: let's just schedule all of our must-do doctors' checkups for the year during the month of January. Imagine how awesome it'll feel to have them booked? According to the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, these are the appointments we're due to get in our planners (or gmail calendars or iCals or…you get the point):
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Dentist: You need a checkup every six months for oral exams (which includes a sweep for oral cancer), and cleanings to keep your teeth nice and pretty.
Dermatologist: If you're fair-skinned, have worrisome moles, or have a family history of skin cancer, book a yearly appointment.
Gynecologist: Once a year. This is for all that good stuff like Pap smears, pelvic exams, breast exams, and screenings for STDs (if you have more than one partner).
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Primary care physician: Once a year or every other year (minimum!). This is the time to get your flu shot, or tetanus shot (you need one every 10 years), and a general check on your fitness level. This may also include a cholesterol screening. If you have a family history of certain types of cancers, check with your
PCP about when you might need extra checkups. (For example, colon cancer runs in my family, so I know I need to start scheduling some colonoscopies.)
OK, 2013, we're on it! Are you a procrastinator? What doctors' appointments do you need to get moving on?
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