Health Check-Ups in your 20s and 30s

When it comes to staying on top of your health, regular wellness checks are important at every age. Even if you're feeling healthy and strong, annual check-ups  in your 20s and 30s can play a key role in your long-term health. Here's why.

#1: Some medical issues aren’t visible without getting a deeper look. 

Your doctor can assess whether you need certain screenings based on your age, personal health and family history. Annual wellness visits are a great opportunity check in on your:  

• Mental Health: Primary care doctors can screen for, diagnose and treat mental health conditions including depression and anxiety.  
• Diabetes Risk: 1 in 4 young adults¹ have pre-diabetes, which is when you have elevated blood sugar but do not yet have diabetes. When caught early, pre-diabetes can be reversed before it becomes diabetes.
• Blood Pressure: 1 in 4 young adults² have high blood pressure, which can increase your risk of stroke and heart failure later in life. High blood pressure often has no symptoms and isn’t discovered until you get it checked.  
• Cholesterol: Your cholesterol levels can play a big role in your risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular issues. High cholesterol can be caused by your diet or family health history. 
• Screenings: Your doctor can assess your health risk for different illnesses based on factors, such as your age, genetics, lifestyle, personal and family health history and more. 
  
  
  

#2: Considering vitamins? Your doctor can help guide you. 

From Vitamin A to Zinc, there are so many different kinds of vitamins out there for you to buy over the counter. It can be overwhelming to know which to take or if you even need to.  

Depending on the types of medicines you take, your diet, geographic region and much more, certain vitamins may be important to take, while others may not be. Your primary care doctor can help determine which vitamins are the best for you. 

#3: Family history can be complicated. Leave it to the professionals. 

Your family history can tell you a lot of things about your health. Sharing your history with your primary care doctor can help them advise you on what screenings you may need, lifestyle changes that may lower your risk for certain illnesses or order lab work to better understand your health.  

#4: Specialist referrals can help your health goals. 

Looking for clearer skin or worried about your gut health? Your doctor can be your first advocate on how to find specialized care to meet your needs. Your health is personal to you, so don’t just take Dr. Google or Dr. TikTok’s advice. Get a personalized care plan from your doctor and/or specialist.  

#5: Prioritize your sexual health.  

Talking about your sexual health may feel uncomfortable at first, but know that it’s important to be honest with your doctor! A primary care doctor can provide discreet care for ED, STDs and more. They can also provide prescriptions when appropriate, including birth control.  

Why not give virtual primary care a try?

If your employer provides you with First Stop Health Virtual Primary Care, you can expect: 

• Personalized care. Establish a long-term relationship with a primary care doctor who will understand your personal and family health history, health goals and unique needs.  
• To save time and money. Don’t wait weeks to get in to see a doctor or spend money on gas and parking. Schedule your visit for a date that works for you in just a few clicks!  
• Confidential, compassionate care. We understand there's a lot at stake when it comes to the privacy of your information. Therefore, we keep health information (i.e., medical information, diagnosis, medical treatment, etc.) protected to keep your identity safe. 

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what one of our patients had to say about their experience.  

* https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p1202-diabetes.html 

** https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/5_surprising_facts.htm