St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care Physician Dr. Rahim Kassam-Adams explains the benefits for all adults to see a primary care provider regularly

Most people will admit they do not like going to the doctor. Maybe it’s due to a fear of the unknown or maybe it’s just making time for it. Maybe you are a young, healthy adult and don’t think you need a primary care provider yet.

Whatever your hesitation may be, visiting a healthcare provider once a year, along with a balanced diet and exercise, can have a positive impact on the overall quality of your health – now and for years to come.

It’s called preventive medicine, and the goal is to lower your risk of chronic diseases or catch things early before they even become symptomatic, explains Dr. Rahim Kassam-Adams, St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care Physician in Pooler.

“We want to stay ahead of any problems. It’s like the phrase says, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,'" Dr. Kassam-Adams says.

Annual checkups typically take no more than 30 minutes. It’s a great opportunity to talk to a healthcare provider about your family’s medical history and any health concerns or nagging symptoms you may be experiencing.

What you can expect during an annual checkup?

Most annual wellness visits include:

• Vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, oxygen, height, weight and body mass index
• Annual lab work may be ordered and review – this will look at things such as your cholesterol, A1C and hemoglobin
• Education on medications, diet, exercise, vaccination and potential lifestyle modifications
• Discussion and recommendation on any screenings you may need
• Review potential risk factors for anxiety, depression and other mood disorders
• Educate, counsel and refer for preventive services as needed

“It’s a lot easier to maintain healthy habits if you start in your 20s rather than later in life when you may now be overweight or have a condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes,” Dr. Kassam-Adams says. “Let’s do the work now and make sure things go smoothly.”

What are the benefits to doing this year after year?

There are many benefits to seeing a healthcare provider once a year including:

• Having lab work done on a regular basis can show any changes in health status including early detection of chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
• Completing preventive health screenings can detect certain cancers, such as breast, colon, prostate and lung.
• Completing a questionnaire on health status changes, such as hearing, vision, memory, balance and mood, on a yearly basis can alert your physician on the need to evaluate these health status changes or refer to a specialist or service.
• Reviewing the need for immunizations, such as pneumonia and the flu. If taken, these vaccines can help prevent infection and hospitalization from serious illness.

Need another reason? You are building a relationship with a healthcare provider who gets to know you and your medical history.

“Even if you are young and healthy, it’s still worth coming in at least once a year, not only for preventive medicine, but also so you have someone that if you get sick, you have the relationship established,” Dr. Kassam-Adams says. “You have someone you know, you trust, and they know you.”

Most insurance companies cover annual visits. Talk to your insurance provider about any potential co-pays.

If you are looking for a healthcare professional, St. Joseph’s/Candler has primary care offices arounds the region from Savannah to Pooler to Statesboro to Bluffton. Learn more here. 

 

About Dr. Kassam-Adams

Dr. Rahim Kassam-Adams received his Bachelor of Art degree in economics from Brown University in Providence, RI. He later completed a post-baccalaureate pre-med program at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Kassam-Adams received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. He completed his family and community residency at Pennsylvania State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, PA. Dr. Kassam-Adams is a member of the American Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Kassam-Adams is accepting new patients. Request an appointment today.