20 Minutes That Can Save Your Life - medical check-ups

Ebony, July, 2000 by Kimberly Davis

The Importance of Annual Checkups

FOR many African-Americans, the prospect of a visit to the doctor's office is less than welcoming. The old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is how some Blacks view their health, experts say.

But you mayhear some of the same people saying, "If they'd detected the problem earlier, I would have had a better chance."

There's a slippery slope between good health and illness, and there's no better way to make sure you're in top form for your journey down the mountain than an annual doctor's visit. In many instances, all it takes is 20 minutes for a physician to declare you healthy or detect potential problems. Specialists say those 20 minutes, as short as they may seem, may save your life.

If you're a woman, especially over the age of 40, early detection of a cancerous lump in your breast could mean the difference between becoming a breast cancer survivor or dying from the disease. If you're a man, early detection of prostate cancer can mean many more years of life, or, if undetected, a pretture death.

Early detection of these and other serious diseases like colon or ovarian cancer is key in successful treatment, says Dr. Javette C. Orgain, president of the National Medical Association. And for young people, annual doctor's visits are necessary for immunizations and vaccinations, and to make sure that children are in good health.

If you've never been to the doctor for a routine checkup, or if it has been a few years since your last medical exam, then you could be courting disaster, says Dr. Orgain. (She is completing the term of former president Dr. Walter Shervington, who died in April.)

"The earlier we get it," Dr. Orgain says, "the better we can intervene in how we treat it."

Regular checkups are necessary to compare your health to that of previous years, experts say. Dr. Fred Daniels of Chicago says the majority of his patients make appointments with him because of medical emergencies. Sometimes it's better, he says, to go into the office when you're feeling healthy, so your doctor knows what good health looks like for you.

"We need to do simple things in our community, like go in for regular checkups, so we can be prepared when serious illnesses crop up," Dr. Daniels says. "Even in the year 2000, we still do not think, overall as a group, that it's appropriate to come in to see the doctor for a physical."

But physicians do understand the deterrents associated with an annual visit to the doctor. Whether it's a reluctance to spend money when you're not sick, mistrust, or a fear of what may be found, some Blacks just don't make that annual trip. With life moving at such a hectic pace and quick (sometimes false) fixes being found on the Internet, some are ignoring the importance of an annual physical.

The millions of Black Americans who do not have healthcare plans should look for free health clinics or health screenings in their neighborhood. Doctors say the yearly visits allow them the opportunity to educate themselves about their patients' medical history and get baseline test results for future reference. It's also an opportunity to instruct the patient on quality-of-life and preventive issues related to lifestyle choices, such as eating healthful foods and exercising regularly.

One of the main problems, particularly in the Black community, is the lack of trust, specialists say. "We don't have enough culturally sensitive health-care providers ... There's somewhat of a mistrust," says Dr. Orgain, who was appointed president of the organization that represents roughly 25,000 Black doctors and their patients.

An Emory University study found that 74 percent of African-Americans have a deep mistrust of doctors. A 1994 study by The Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that promotes health awareness, found that less than half the Blacks surveyed were satisfied with the quality of their health care.

Once you're sitting on the examination table, there are several things you should remember in order to make your visit a productive one. Make sure the doctor or assistant takes your blood pressure and heart rate accurately. When drawing blood, be sure the doctor or medical assistant uses sterile gloves and equipment. Expect questions about your family's medical history regarding heart disease, high blood pressure or cancer, recent illnesses and medication changes.

"We're trying to move people to a mind-set of preventive health so that they say `I'm feeling well,'" says Dr. Tacoma McKnight, an obstetrician/ gynecologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. "`But in order to continue to feel well, I should continue to see my doctor.'"

When you see your doctor, you should be aware that men and women face different health concerns. And your doctor should be aware that males and females also view health care differently. A more recent study by The Commonwealth Fund shows that men often fail to seek health care untfi it's too late. Although the life spans of both sexes have increased dramatically, men don't live as long as women. The study found that more than half the men had not had a physical exam or cholesterol test in the past year. Fewer than a third of the men over 40 in the study reported that their doctor actually asked them about their famfiy medical history. t Although women are more likely to go to the doctor for routine examinations, it doesn't mean the visits are productive, experts say. Make sure your doctor is asking you the right questions, again about a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or even heart disease, which is a medical problem often associated with men.