Physical Exam – Worth Every Penny

Anyone find cheap deals for organs on Black Friday? These are the cheapest I found.

Estimated U.S. Average 2008 First-Year Billed Charges Per Transplant

Table 1

This begs the question, have you gotten your physical exam yet?

The days are counting down and it’s almost the year 2012. New Year’s resolutions are bound to come up, but is there anything you missed this year?

Many people may be hesitant to get a checkup from their doctor, but what’s the fuss? Here are some common excuses, ways to overcome it, and how to make it easier the next time you go.

#1: “I don’t have enough time!” You have your job, classes, your family, errands, projects, and everything else in between… who actually has time to get yearly checkups?

Plan ahead as if you are planning to go to an event. This will make it easier since it’s already planned. And commit and go!

Essentially, a physical exam will most likely take a couple of hours out of your 365 days a year. This includes the initial check up, and getting your results back. Take those few hours and use it to invest in your health and life.

#2: “The doctor scares me!”

Doctors generally want to help, so be specific about your questions and don’t be afraid to ask. Let your physician know about any concerns you may have. Most people are unsure about what they feel in their body, so be safe and address it. Don’t waste time, immediately address your concerns because you have on average 15 minutes with the physician. Doctors are not mind readers. State what you are feeling. Even if you think the problems are insignificant, there is no problem too small.

#3: “I look and feel fine, therefore I KNOW I’m healthy.”

You can look and feel healthy, but can you confidently say you are 100% healthy? I am going to emphasize the saying, “Beauty is only skin deep.” Looking healthy on the outside does not equal being healthy on the inside. “‘Just because someone is lean doesn’t make them immune to diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease,’ said Dr. Louis Teichholz, chief of cardiology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. People with normal Body Mass Index scores — a standard obesity measure that divides your weight by the square of your height — can have surprising levels of fat deposits inside.” [Source]

#4: “I have no health insurance.”

There are many free clinics in the United States ranging from $60 to $90. In addition, if you are near a college you can ask for health services at affordable prices. You can still get a checkup even if you don’t have health insurance.

There is a helpful website called PriceDoc which caters to people without health insurance.

Excuse #5: “It’s too much of a hassle!”

Is monitoring your health too much of a hassle?

Just like we bring in our cars for maintenance, we need to have regular checkups for our bodies. Whenever a car part is lacking in performance or needs a replacement, the mechanic can fix it immediately. Unlike car parts, our organs are not easily replaceable due to the high cost and no guarantees of a donor. (Table 1)

The cheapest organ transplant is $ 259,000 for a kidney – Can you afford NOT to have a check up?

We only have one set of organs to use for the rest of our lives. Take the easier and cheaper route with prevention.

What are your thoughts on this? Let me know down below!