First of all, forgive me, I know this is the silliest topic ever and should be so simple. I'll start of by saying I'm Canadian, so I have the luxury of going to the doctor whenever I want because I have medical coverage. I'm so blessed!!!

The thing is, in my family we never just went to the doctor. Not for the flu... Not for a cold or being sick. I went to the doctor maybe ten times in my childhood. For shots or for something my parents thought needed more than soup and sleep, when I bruised a bone or something major like that. If you could walk, you could go to school, etc. It's just how we lived!!!

So, to be honest, I don't really understand the idea of a "check-up". Can you really just go to the doctor completely healthy and they what, examine you? Check on you? Aren't they frustrated by it or don't doctors think you are wasting their time?

Now that I'm recently married and moved out, and working on this healthy life style, I've thought more and more about doctor check ups. Should this be a yearly thing to get "checked-up". Is it healthy, and should I know? I have a family doctor, but she must be close to retirement by now. I think she works maybe twice a week. The last time I went to the doctor it was for antibiotics for an infection and I didn't even see her. So my question is, should I do yearly check ups? Are they a real thing? How do I call and ask for just a check up?

Yes, yearly check-ups are a real thing. Here they are called a well child visit for kids, a physical for athletes or adults. They do things like check your blood pressure, heart rate, weight, urine sample and as you get older more tests like mammograms, prostrate, colonoscopy, etc. Some females would include a pap smear in this exam and others go to an annual visit to an ob/gyn instead or in place of a reg dr physical. You would discuss any health concerns you have with your doctor, ask questions etc. They are considered preventative care. Not sure how it works in Canada at all.

I used to live in the UK where we also have nationalized health care.

The answer is yes. Phone up and ask for a check up. Most people just go to the doctor when they get ill but the smart ones go for check ups too.

In the US it is almost mandatory.

I am also in Canada. There is nothing to a physical. There will likely be blood work. Possibly fasting, for glucose and cholesterol.

Yes they are a real thing and you should be doing it. It is not mandatory in the US, as a matter of fact that all depends on the type of insurance you have. My previous insurance did not cover check ups, you had to go in for a specific reason and then they would proceed with a check up from there so there are ways to get around that. Living in Canada I'm sure you won't have that particular hurdle. My medical visits include:

- OB/GYN yearly since I became sexually active
- yearly check ups
- yearly flu shot
- manipulative therapy from my osteopath/GP as needed
- specialist visits for various stuff as needed
- 2 or 3 dental visits just for cleaning
- nutritional therapy for my ED

It depends. I'm a nurse so I never go to a doc, I see them enough. My docs don't recommend coming in unless I have a concern or am due for a pap, I think it's every 2 to 3 years now...
Flu shots I get through work, but you can set them up with your doc if you want to get one.

It really depends on your needs. Most docs would rather see you and have you listen to them the not see you and you have a full blown problem they have to deal with. (High blood pressure)

The purpose of a check up is to work on preventative measures such as immunization am weight loss etc so it prevents the big bad common diseases that now half the US population has.

Thanks every body!!! Really helps put things in perspective. I think its also thing about where I live... I don't know anyone who visits the doctor regularly, or st least its not common. I think the general consensus is it wastes tax payers dollars. But I think I will look into it now that I know its a real thing and what they do. I'll ask what they recommend.

Well I'm in the US but it's common here to go to the doctor for an annual physical to screen for risk factors and existing illness, and then also for women to go to the doctor once a year for her annual women's wellness visit (Pap Smear, etc.) I guess they decided that catching stuff early costs less money overall than only treating someone once they are actually sick.

I go in for a yearly well-woman visit. I get a pap, have my skin spots looked at, and get blood work done. If I have any concerns between those yearly appointments I do not hesitate. Routine visits- ESPECIALLY when you're female!- are very important to early detection.

My husband also gets labs and such drawn every year.

ETA: My old dr. automatically did the blood work. With my new dr. it wasn't offered, but I let her know I wanted it done and she had no problems with it. Turned out something turned up in my labs so we're retesting and keeping a close eye on it. I'm not even 30 yet, and other than my weight I am considered perfectly healthy. Really, it's soooo important to keep a close eye on your health.