Why December Is the Best Time to Schedule Your Annual Physical

An annual physical is important at any age. But as you increase in age, those yearly checkups become even more crucial. Because you’re out of school, you can schedule them at any time of the year you’d like.

So, why December? As long as you schedule an annual exam, you’re doing what’s needed for your health. But if you change your yearly checkup to December, you may get some extra benefits from the same tests and treatments.

Charles Ripp, MD, Fran Gorman, DNP, and our medical experts at Gorman Medical, PC are ready to see you in our Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, Colorado, offices. Here’s why December’s the best time for your checkup.

You catch potential problems in the deadliest season

Not to put a dent in your holiday spirit, but the winter months are notorious for the spike in heart attacks they bring. In fact, the most common days for heart attacks in the United States and Europe are:

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• Day after Christmas
• New Year’s Day

Holiday stress is, of course, a factor in the spike in heart attacks and heart attack deaths. But winter’s frosts and bitter winds make your blood vessels contract, narrowing them and making it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. 

You might also have to engage in taxing labor, such as shoveling sidewalks or driveways. That extra exertion, combined with contracted blood vessels, could turn deadly.

A December exam lets us find out right away if your heart and blood vessels are healthy enough to withstand the extra stresses of winter. We might recommend a stress test or an electrocardiogram (EKG) if you have worrying symptoms. If we detect problems, you get the medicine and treatment you need to stay healthy. 

You can start your resolutions early

Even when you try to do everything “right,” you may have an area or two in your health journey that needs attention. Maybe it’s time to give up alcohol or smoking. Maybe it’s time to lose those extra pounds that raise your risk for everything from diabetes to stroke.

Once we finish your annual physical and your lab tests come back, we alert you to any problems or potential problems so that you can make the changes you need to have the best year yet. That way, when you make your New Year’s resolutions, you’re already on your way to keeping them.

You can also book any support teams you may need to make those health-related resolutions come true. We can refer you to a smoking- or substance-cessation program, or help you with medically assisted weight loss.

You kill the bugs

If you haven’t already gotten your flu or COVID shots, it’s not too late. The sooner in December you do it, the better, because your immune system takes a week or two to learn how to fight the viruses. Ideally, you should get protected before all of the holiday get-togethers and mass travel.

You begin the new year with a clean slate

As with any task that you don’t exactly look forward to (don’t worry, we’re not insulted), once you have undergone your annual physical you probably won’t have to see us for another year. As long as you don’t have a chronic condition, or get sick, your entire year is free.

You also don’t have to worry about aches, pains, or problems that may plague you, such as insomnia. During your December checkup, bring up all the health issues you have on your mind and we’ll check them out.

Then, if you need treatment for sleep apnea, for example, or if you need to start monitoring your blood sugar, you have the knowledge to take action. You start the new year right, with all of the support and steps you need to take to stay healthy.

You avoid the crowds

With New Year’s resolutions come a flurry of activities. Some people join a gym. Some people go to the doctor. Some do both.

During December, most people are focused on the holidays, and not the new year or the new you. When you’re out of step with the crowd, you don’t get crowded out.

You get the most out of your insurance

If you’ve put off your annual physical, and your insurance allows you at least one well-visit per year, now’s the time to book your checkup. With all of the uncertainty about health insurance, you can get the care you need with your current plan before your premiums or co-pays skyrocket (or not).

Call our nearest office or use the online form to schedule a December physical today.