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22 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | March 2017 | Question: How do I prepare for a productive check up with my physician? Most Medicare and Medi-Cal patients are eligible for free annual wellness exams. These check-ups are important, as health conditions that are detected early are usually much easier to treat. Plus, seeking regular preventive care can actually help to ward off the development of many serious diseases. 1. Create a list of all medications and dosages. If you have been seeing several doctors, your primary care physician might not be aware of all you prescription medications. Prepare this list and take it with you, just in case. It will be much easier to answer questions during this part of the checkup, and having this information can help to prevent dangerous drug interactions. Note: Include herbal remedies on this list, too. Some of them can interact with prescriptions. 2. Make a list of questions or concerns before you go. It can be difficult to remember everything during an office visit, so if you have multiple concerns, write them down ahead of time. Consider your diet, sleeping habits, and any new or unexplained symptoms when making this list 3. Ask about vaccinations. If you have any concerns about vaccinations, now is the time to ask. Most doctors recommend annual flu vaccines for seniors (who are most vulnerable to the flu). You might also consider shots for pneumonia and shingles. 4. Schedule preventive care. Physicians generally recommend screenings for breast cancer (for female patients), colon cancer, and prostate cancer (for men). Depending upon other test results, your doctor might also recommend screening for lipid disorder and diabetes. A bone density scan could be performed on anyone, but is mostly necessary for women over 65. At older ages, many of these tests are ordered annually. 5. Ask about referrals. If you're concerned about your vision, hearing, mental health, or some other condition which requires a specialist, ask for a referral at this visit. If you smoke, now is the time to ask about smoking cessation programs. 6. Make your own record. Write down your height, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and the results of any other test performed at the check-up. These can be handy in an emergency. Also, write down the lot numbers of any vaccines received, along with the date. If you experienced a reaction to a vaccine, you will need this information to make a report. For any questions or a needs assessment visit please contact Jennifer Trebler at (951) 663-1060. Ask a Question