[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/why-getting-an-annual-physical-and-preventative-screening-now-is-a-great-investment-in-your-health\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/why-getting-an-annual-physical-and-preventative-screening-now-is-a-great-investment-in-your-health\/","headline":"Why getting an annual physical and preventative screening now is a great investment in your health","name":"Why getting an annual physical and preventative screening now is a great investment in your health","description":"Preventive Health Dr. Desai Internal Medicine provider Veena Desai, MD, discusses why getting an annual physical and preventative screening is a great investment in your health   As the adage says, \u201cAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\u201d Perhaps no one understands this better than family physician Veena Desai, MD, director of","datePublished":"2021-09-01","dateModified":"2024-01-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/author\/bmaadmin\/#Person","name":"BMA","url":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/author\/bmaadmin\/","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/739926f978e2075ff1252542d7683b64005f39680b89bf687eccfb5e84dd7568?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/739926f978e2075ff1252542d7683b64005f39680b89bf687eccfb5e84dd7568?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Bergen Medical Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/bma-logo-2.png","url":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/bma-logo-2.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopening-slide-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopening-slide-1.jpg","width":1590,"height":670},"url":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/why-getting-an-annual-physical-and-preventative-screening-now-is-a-great-investment-in-your-health\/","about":["News"],"wordCount":792,"articleBody":"Preventive Health Dr. Desai Internal Medicine provider Veena Desai, MD, discusses why getting an annual physical and preventative screening is a great investment in your health As the adage says, \u201cAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\u201dPerhaps no one understands this better than family physician Veena Desai, MD, director of Family Practice at\u00a0Bergen Medical Associates, a multispecialty health care practice that\u2019s been serving the residents of Bergen County, N.J., and Rockland County, N.Y., for over 30 years.\u201cPreventative health care is so important because it can avoid medical conditions from developing in the first place or catch them early in the process and lead to a better prognosis,\u201d Dr. Desai said. \u201cIn most cases, the earlier you identify a condition, the more favorable the outcome, especially with so many treatment options available today.\u201dA Powerful ToolDr. Desai said that adherence to regular physicals and age-appropriate screening exams represent a powerful way to stay on top of and take ownership of your long-term health.\u201cPhysicals are key and everyone should get an annual physical regardless of their age,\u201d she confirmed. \u201cI love these appointments because they\u2019re a great opportunity to truly get to know each patient. During our 30-minute physicals at Bergen Medical Associates, I review the patient\u2019s medical history in terms of their medications, surgeries, allergies, lifestyle behaviors and family history. I also discuss the immunizations or screenings (e.g., cervical pap smears, mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate screening, etc.) that are appropriate for their age,\u201d she said. \u201cFor the majority of insurance carriers, there\u2019s no co-pay for these recommended preventative screenings, so patients should definitely capitalize on them because they\u2019re fully covered.\u201dAccording to Dr. Desai, physicals at\u00a0Bergen Medical Associates\u00a0are thorough exams that involve assessments of everything from the patient\u2019s ear-nose-throat tract, heart and lungs to their neurological function and skin. \u201cFor females, physicals also include a breast exam and for males they include an examination of the testicles and prostate,\u201d she said. \u201cAdditionally, we have labs in our offices and are able to provide full bloodwork for our patients. This includes a blood count for anemia; a kidney\/liver test (comprehensive metabolic panel); a liver panel (full cholesterol panel); a urine analysis to detect blood, protein and sugar in the urine; and the newer hemoglobin A1C test, which assesses a patient\u2019s sugar levels over the last three months. This A1C test will determine whether they\u2019re at risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes in the future,\u201d she said. \u201cIf diagnosed, high cholesterol or A1C levels can be addressed through dietary modifications and\/or other lifestyle changes. We will monitor that and help reduce the patient\u2019s risk factors.\u201dAmong regular screening exams, \u201cWe perform electrocardiograms (or EKGs), which check for signs of heart disease, as well as pap smears,\u201d Dr. Desai said. \u201cWe have a colonoscopy and endoscopy suite in our Emerson location, and will provide patients with a prescription for mammograms or bone density tests to be completed at a local imaging center.\u201d Preventative screening tests follow guidelines recommended by a range of renowned regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Practice, and therefore are usually covered by insurance. \u201cHowever, we do recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to confirm their specific coverage,\u201d Dr. Desai advised.Taking OwnershipA recent survey revealed that while an overwhelming majority of Americans believe in the importance of annual physicals, only one in five adults actually gets one.\u00a0“Fear, hesitancy and indifference may be behind that trend and I totally understand that,\u201d Dr. Desai said. \u201cBut physicals and screenings can help stop medical conditions from developing or can help detect them earlier, when a wider range of treatment options are available.\u201dIf nothing else, \u201cA 30-minute physical is a great opportunity to develop a relationship with your doctor, take ownership of your health, and learn about the screening tests that are in your best interests,\u201d she confirmed.\u201cIn the end, nothing is more important than taking time out once a year to keep yourself healthy and up to date with all of your health screenings,\u201d Dr. Desai concluded. \u201cIt represents an extremely beneficial investment in yourself.\u201dFor More InformationWith offices in Emerson, Paramus, Ridgewood, Northvale and Montvale, N.J., Bergen Medical Associates offers primary care and 12 areas of specialized care. Patients enjoy the \u201cone-stop shopping\u201d approach where so many medical services are provided under one umbrella. The multispecialty group fosters an environment of collaboration among the physicians, which results in a seamless continuum of care for patients. For more information, contact us today or call\u00a0201-967-8221."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Why getting an annual physical and preventative screening now is a great investment in your health","item":"https:\/\/www.bergenmed.com\/why-getting-an-annual-physical-and-preventative-screening-now-is-a-great-investment-in-your-health\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]