We’ve all heard the advice: “Get an annual physical exam.” It’s common sense. I hadn’t gone to the doctor for quite some time myself a few years back — really didn’t want to go. A spate of friends had been diagnosed with some bad illnesses and found their blood pressure and cholesterol now needed treatment. So I was afraid of what my own doctor might find.

This, despite being a perfectly rational adult who knows the value of maintaining my health. Apparently I, along with many Americans choose to forego this ritual, for various reasons.

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So is there really a danger in doing so?

“There’s some confusion about what an annual physical is really about,” said Dr. Kristine Arthur, M.D., an internist at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “And that is for preventative care.”

In other words, it isn’t just about checking one’s current set of aches and pains. It is a good time to go over one’s general health, family medical history, risk factors, and to check basic blood metrics — like cholesterol.

Establish a Baseline for Your Health
Arthur added, “For women, we want to focus on things like Pap smears, mammograms, and other preventative screening. For men, it’s a time to check on the health of the prostate, the heart, and lungs, and to do GI and colon screens. Perhaps we’ll do an EKG if there are certain indicators.”

“Come in when you feel good. We want to establish a baseline of vital signs when you are in good health,” said one physician.

“The point is to come in when you feel good,” she said. “We want to establish a baseline of vital signs and other metrics for when you are in good health, so we can compare this data to when you are feeling poorly.”

There are additional benefits of establishing this record of good health. If you only go to the doctor when you’re having problems, it can make it difficult to assess the severity of any issue.

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Frequency of Visits Up to You and Your Doc
Most insurance plans provide for some form of preventative care and an annual exam is usually one such benefit — but that doesn’t mean one actually has to go in every single year.

“Younger people in their 20s and 30s can probably get by going in every other year or every third year, because they tend to be in better overall health,” said Arthur. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening for cervical cancer in women age 21 to 65 every three years.

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Some health experts even say that if you’re generally healthy, you don’t need to go in that often at all. But by age 50, federal recommendations include regular screenings for colorectal cancer or other risk factors, or earlier if there is a family history. For some women, age 40 is the recommended time to begin annual mammogram screening for breast cancer.

Those with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, are going to come in three or four times a year anyway. Elements of the annual physical exam can be conducted on each visit to spread out the assessment.

Ignorance Is Not Always Bliss
As for the fear of what may be discovered, you’re not alone. Arthur said this is very common — but the sooner something is found, the better and more quickly it can be treated. Several cancers can be reversed if they are discovered early enough.

Related: Don’t Bail on Your Scale

“People shouldn’t feel like they are alone if they are nervous to visit the doctor. It is a natural feeling to be worried about finding out that something is wrong,” she added. People are also fearful about being told they’ll have to start taking medication — as if there is some stigma associated with it. There isn’t. We take medication to feel better, although of course side effects need to be watched and managed.

Nor is anyone required to do what is suggested.

“The ultimate point of the physical,” said Arthur, “is to get information and discuss your options. Whatever you do is your decision. Doctors are a resource.”