5 Health appointments you should schedule for the New Year

Healthy Start: 5 Doctor appointments to schedule this month for a healthy 2018

Sarah Khan

15 Jan 2018

updated the 16 January 2018 à 11:30

1/5
1. Visit the gynaecologist
There is a common notion that you only need to consult your gynecologist if you're pregnant or trying to conceive. This is of course a health myth among women that we ought to bust this 2018.

While your general practitioner (GP) or family doctor may be able to treat the symptoms of any gynecological problems you might have, they often do not address the core of the problem. There are various reasons to visit your gynaecologist: menstrual irregularities, lower abdominal pains, presence of lumps in your abdomen, pain during after sexual intercourse and more. Regular visits help you detect any issues early and spares you the complication of any long-term medical issues.
2/5
2. Keep your mental health in top form at the therapist
If 2017 was an exhausting year for you (particularly emotionally and mentally), experts recommend scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional into your calendar as well.

Indicate that you're there for a mental check-up and also candidly share whatever's been bogging your mind, including any anxiety and mood changes you might be facing as of late.
3/5
3. Give your skin some TLC at the dermatologist
Doctors recommend visiting your dermatologist on a yearly basis for a skin check.

Why? One reason why skin cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer is because it is most easily identifiable. An annual appointment at your dermatologist lets you detect any plausible signs of skin cancer early. Experts also recommend self-checks on all your freckles and moles every month to spot any moles that look out of the ordinary.
4/5
4. Get your teeth examined
Experts recommend that regular dental checkups are essential - and for more reasons than more people realise.

Seeing a dentist regularly helps detect any signs of tooth decay and gum-related issues, which can spare you and invasive and expensive treatments in the future. More importantly, these regular visits can also detect gum disease, which has been associated with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and oral cancers.
5/5
5. Consult your physician
It is important to have and pay regular visits to your primary care doctor who specializes in internal medicine, family medicine or a nurse practitioner that takes care of your overall health. They will be able to assess your risk for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, track your vaccinations.

Prevention is key, after all!

You’ve booked your yoga package for the year, swapped out your sodium-rich potato chips for healthy almond alternatives at work, and are scheduling weekly jogging sessions – all in the name of a healthier, new you.

While this is great, you might be missing some crucial steps in your 2018 health and wellness agenda. For one, many of us neglect to make key yearly health appointments more often than not.

However, let that all be a thing of the past: make 2018 the year of prevention. Take the time to book key health appointments to make sure you are in the best shape health-wise!

From a visit to the gynaecologist to a candid session at the therapist, these are the 5 health appointments you need to schedule to ensure that all aspects of your health (quite literally from top-to-toe) is taken care of. Browse them in the gallery above!

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

Wine Yoga, Doga & More: The 6 quirkiest yoga styles to try in Singapore?

Reiki, Crystal Healing & More: 7 new age healing therapies to try in Singapore

Expert Tips: 7 Healthy new year resolutions you can actually stick to in 2018

Horoscope Predictions: 13 to 19 January