Haven't been to a doctor in a long time.. Where to start?!
Question: I am 20 years old and I haven't been to a doctor's office since I was a kid... it has been about 12 years.
I feel healthy overall, no complaints but I want to make sure I don't have anything wrong with me. I know at least 5 immediate family members who have had cancer. (3 grandparents and 2 aunts). My sister has asthma, heart problems and blood problems. My father has a genetically inherited type of anemia. I was a smoker up until a week ago. How can I know I am completely healthy? Besides doing a regular check up, what other tests do I need to do considering the health problems my family has had?
What does a 20 year old normally need to get done? (someone whose family hasn't had any major health problems).
Is it too early to start screening for cancer or other serious problems?
Answers: I am 20 years old and I haven't been to a doctor's office since I was a kid... it has been about 12 years.
I feel healthy overall, no complaints but I want to make sure I don't have anything wrong with me. I know at least 5 immediate family members who have had cancer. (3 grandparents and 2 aunts). My sister has asthma, heart problems and blood problems. My father has a genetically inherited type of anemia. I was a smoker up until a week ago. How can I know I am completely healthy? Besides doing a regular check up, what other tests do I need to do considering the health problems my family has had?
What does a 20 year old normally need to get done? (someone whose family hasn't had any major health problems).
Is it too early to start screening for cancer or other serious problems?
What you need to do is find a doctor that is accepting new patients and when you call for an appointment, tell them that you are requiring a full physical. When you see the doctor, they will ask you for a family history and you will tell the doctor exactly what you have said here. Your doctor will check out your general health, will most likely send you for lab and x-ray work and then if there is anything that would indicate further tests are needed your doctor will call you back in for further tests. It never hurts to see a doctor for pre screening and a physical.
dont start just stay at home and die a peaceful death...
About all I would add (or subtract) from one of the responder's answers is don't get X-rayed unless you have a good reason for it. Keep your exposure to ionizing radiation to a minimum.
if you feel okay you prb are.You dont say your gender
if female you need to do beast checks and have pap smears once a year..Males need to check for lumps and bumps also down below.
however you will need a heath check up once a year
tell your doctor all the family history.