The most significant benefits of an annual physical are knowledge and preventive care — for both you and your physician. In addition, these visits help to establish a baseline for your health against which your doctor can detect unhealthy trends before they become risk factors.
Nearly a third of the 133 million Americans with a chronic disease don't even know they have the disease. According to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease1, as many as 1.1 million lives could be saved each year across the U.S. simply by increasing the use of common preventive care services. Crucial and often simple, health screenings quickly detect the two most common chronic conditions — diabetes and high blood pressure — before they cause serious health issues.
Or maybe you have already been diagnosed with a chronic health condition. The Centers for Disease Control2 cites that 7 out of every ten deaths are caused by chronic disease. But proper disease management can prevent unnecessary hospitalization and reduce the cost of primary care.
Another benefit of an annual physical is the connection you will develop with your doctor. Then, when a health crisis occurs, you will have a doctor and their staff who already know and care about you — and you can probably be seen sooner.
Get more out of your physical.
To get the most out of your annual checkup, take a moment to prepare for it:
GuideStone cares about your health. We believe that when the body of Christ is healthy, it's free to transform the world. That's why each of our health plans includes wellness tools and resources designed to keep you healthy and ready to serve. See why GuideStone's Christian health plans are a good fit for your team.
1Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
2Centers for Disease Control, 2021
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