Skipping the Doctor? Here’s Why You Do It

When was the last time you had a doctor’s appointment? If you’re sitting here thinking that you can’t remember, then there’s every chance you are skipping the doctors in favor of other things that you think are more important.

Let’s be clear here: there is nothing more important than your health, whether it’s physical or mental health. You should be seeing the doctors regularly, as in once every six months, to make sure that your health is where it should be, rather than going down the toilet.

Even if you are generally healthy, you exercise, you drink water, and you eat well. That doesn’t mean you should be skipping out on regular doctor’s visits, because these are for preventative care, not curative care.

For example, if you don’t go to the doctors unless you are actually sick, you are not curing anything. Instead you are taking medicines for an issue that is presenting itself right now.

In some cases a prostate cancer test can be the preventative care that you need, but if you don’t go to the doctor, you won’t know.

There are plenty of reasons that people skip out on going to the doctors, and some are a lot more complicated than others. Here are some of those reasons that you could be skipping the doctors right now.

• The cost. This is actually a big factor when it comes to people skipping their doctor’s appointments. The cost of healthcare seems to be going through the roof, and insurance companies are making it harder and harder for people to make a claim. The perceived cost of healthcare is also an important thing to consider because if you are in certain places in the world that has a socialized medical system such as the NHS, you’ll be able to access healthcare, but you may have a fair way ahead of you before you can actually see a doctor.If you don’t want to wait around, you can go for private healthcare. But again, if you don’t have insurance, this cost is something you have to factor.
• You’re oblivious to your health risks. You might feel perfectly fine in yourself, but that doesn’t mean you are.You might think you can see very well, but that doesn’t really don’t need glasses. You may think you’re doing well with your teeth, but that doesn’t mean they’re not full of cavities. Do you see where we’re going with this? If you are oblivious to your health risks, you may not feel the need to go to the doctors, but the whole point of going in the first place is to make sure that you are no longer a risk. Preventative care promotes better health by empowering you as the patient to take ownership of your health and make it a valued activity. 

Preventative care is going to be a gamechanger if you pay attention to your health. You need to be aware of yourself and stop skipping your appointments!