3 Reasons to Schedule Your Annual Physical Before the New Year

If you’re tempted to postpone that checkup until after the holiday hustle and bustle dies down, think again. Making time for a year-end physical exam is a simple way to ensure a healthy, hassle-free New Year. Here’s why you should book now.

As the holidays approach, your calendar fills up fast with shopping trips, family visits, and social events. But there’s one more important appointment you should be sure to schedule this season — your annual physical exam.

For comprehensive, personalized care, turn to John Terzian, MD, FACC, and our expert team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC. Here, we share three reasons to make time for your next checkup before the New Year begins.

Catching health changes early

Annual physicals are your best defense against serious illnesses that often develop without obvious symptoms. These routine visits allow us to track your health from year to year, making it easier to spot conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, in their earliest, most treatable stages.

During your exam, we discuss any updates or changes to your medical history, check your vital signs, and perform any recommended screenings based on your age and personal risk factors. This may include blood work, such as a complete blood count (CBC) or a complete metabolic panel (CMP), to detect irregularities in your body that could point to a larger issue.

Booking your appointment now means you can get a head start on your New Year’s health resolutions. And by identifying warning signs early, you’re able to avoid common holiday pitfalls, like overeating and stress, that may worsen an existing condition.

Keeping seasonal illness at bay

Cold and flu season is in full swing, and holiday travel, crowded stores, and indoor gatherings significantly increase your exposure to germs.

If you haven’t already received a COVID-19 or flu shot this season, a year-end exam provides the perfect opportunity to strengthen your defenses against seasonal illnesses. Depending on your age and health history, we may also recommend vaccination against shingles, pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

For patients taking daily medications, our team reviews current prescriptions and orders necessary refills before the end of the year. Scheduling your visit ahead of time ensures a sufficient supply of essential medication over the holidays, preventing any disruptions in treatment.

Maximizing your time and money

Research shows that January is one of the busiest months for clinics around the country, as patients rush to recover from the holidays and start the New Year off on the right foot. To secure the most convenient date and time for your annual physical, we recommend planning ahead.

Beyond the convenience, getting your exam in before the end of the year may also be financially beneficial. Many insurance plans reset co-pays, deductibles, and flexible spending account (FSA) balances on January 1st, regardless of how close you were to hitting your max benefits. If you have already paid into your plan, booking now maximizes the value of that investment before it vanishes.

Don’t wait until the New Year to make your health a priority. Call or click today to schedule your year-end appointment at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.