It's a new year, and perhaps you're thinking about calling your doctor to make an appointment for your annual physical. Don't, writes oncologist Ezekiel J. Emanuel in the New York Times. "From a health perspective, the annual physical exam is basically worthless," he says. Studies have found that routine doctor visits—those that are not related to a specific complaint—don't reduce mortality overall (or from causes like cancer and heart disease), and many experts don't recommend "checkup"-type exams. As Emanuel explains, it's rare for doctors to actually pick up on a previously unknown symptom during a routine physical. And even if they do, out of thousands of people going in for annuals, there are "maybe one or two [who] actually gain a health benefit from an early diagnosis," he writes.
As for the rest, early detection won't make any difference: Regardless of when it's caught, a person with thyroid cancer likely won't die anyway, while a person with esophageal or pancreatic cancer likely won't see his or her life extended. And in some cases, healthy people "are actually hurt by physicals," because they end up with complications or pain from unnecessary further screening. Beyond all this, of course, there's the fact that "the checkups consume billions, although no one is sure exactly how many billions because of the challenge of measuring the additional screenings and follow-up tests." So keep eating healthily and exercising, and get preventive care like flu shots and colonoscopies, but to reduce health-care costs and free up doctors for patients who really need them, skip the annual physical. Click for Emanuel's full column. (Or read about why he doesn't want to live past 75.)
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6 comments:
Rob's brother? Helped design the ACA ? He scares me when he is on TV.
He made sense until the flu shot comment.
Tell this to the health insurance companies who are forcing people to go get annual exams of all sorts, and if not completed, they are charging fees to the individual policy holders.
I can understand that we all have a common goal of trying to create a healthier society, however, it should be left to the individual to take the proper steps for their own health, especially if these exams aren't going to prevent any future visits for more serious issues. In this case, it isn't really decreasing cost for the insurance companies, it would be creating one more expense.
Just like hussien obama, I take anything out of dr. zeke's pie hole to be a lie. I'll keep doing what I have been doing.
The Veterans Administration requires bi-yearly or more check ups for dispensing medication plus with the bloodwork done it gives patients a better picture of their health. At 66 y.o. I think it's a good thing, a smart thing for longevity. If we refuse, the medication will slow down or stop. I like being alive, it makes me happy, I think I'll continue to get my check ups because old Zeke doesn't know or care about me, my primary care provider at the V.A. does. Dumb idea!
colonoscopies usually do more harm than good.
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