30 Minutes to Better Health- Men’s Annual Physicals

By Meghan Presnell, FNP-C & Jacob Brayboy, MD

Ok, guys, so let’s talk about tune-ups. Your car; you change your oil every 3,000 miles, wax your boat once a year, rinse off your fishing rods, even clean your grill every once and a while. Are you giving yourself the TLC that you need? Let’s be honest. I bet one of the only reasons you ever see your primary care provider is because your mom/wife/girlfriend/sister nags you until you say yes. Am I right? So tell me- what is keeping you from going?

When a research group from Web MD asked men this question, the main reasons they gave were busy schedule, cost, or difficulty getting an appointment. The good news is that at Avance, we have answers to these perceived problems. Yes, you do have a busy schedule, I believe you. You run out of the door in the morning, half-awake because you still haven’t had your full cup (or cups…) of coffee, then head to a work-day that is slammed. You get home later than you hoped, and all you want to do is lie on the couch and decompress. What if I told you that a physical only takes 30 minutes? Interested? Oh, and we are open from 7:30-7:00 Monday through Friday and are open on the weekends to help accommodate your busy lifestyle. And the cost? Most insurance plans are required to pay for your preventative physical, so it is free to you. Have I got you hooked?

An annual physical is important for several reasons. It is estimated that 1/3 of Americans are walking around with an undiagnosed chronic condition. Screenings help to catch these conditions that are often asymptomatic at first, including hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. At your physical, screenings for certain cancers can also be performed if appropriate, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. We also ensure that you are up to date on all your immunizations and help you with healthy lifestyle practices. Also, it allows you to establish a relationship with your primary care provider so they can individualize your care. So when you want to schedule your tune-up, give us a call. We’re here to help keep you running smoothly.

With 8 locations in the Triangle area and week of availability, there is no excuse. Take control of your health today!