Save Your Life See Your Doctor - Regular Checkups Save Lives

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Dec. 15, 2022 - PRLog -- In addition to visiting a physician when an illness or injury occurs, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends annual or bi-annual check-ups that allow your doctor to monitor your diagnostic readings (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) and, if necessary, prescribe medication and/or treatment to bring these readings up to healthy levels.

According to the CDC, seven out of 10 U.S. deaths are caused by chronic disease. Roughly half of the country's population has been diagnosed with a chronic illness, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, AIDS, or other conditions classified by the medical community as preventable.

Only 25.2 percent, or one in four people, report having a recent routine check-up. Yet, routine cardiovascular exams alone save tens of thousands of adult lives each year, while vaccines save the lives of roughly 42,000 children on an annual basis, according to the CDC.

Annual or bi-annual preventive health screenings and primary care consultations have also been found to significantly increase life expectancy, particularly among the 30- to 49-year age group.

"Too many people stay away from a doctor's office because they think if they feel okay, they don't need to go in for things like an annual check-up," said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. "And when illness strikes there is no established provider to treat and assist with the management of their needs."

Dr. Arteaga lost a sister to breast cancer. "My sister never opened up to tell either me or her older sister—both of us doctors—that she had a lump on her breast. Later we learned that she kept making excuses about it, 'I bumped myself' or 'It's just a bruise' and she basically ignored it for over six months."

"There really is no reason for someone experiencing symptoms to put off seeing a doctor," said Dr. Arteaga. Far more people today can obtain insurance thanks to Covered California, Medicaid, and the like, making it much easier for them to get the care they need.

"Health care is no longer an out-of-reach luxury for those who couldn't afford insurance but is now available for everyone. Our staff is trained to help uninsured people who come to our offices to apply for coverage," Dr. Arteaga said.

In addition to providing acute care for people who may be coming down with something, Dr. Arteaga and his team make sure to reach out to those who are on longer-term care for a chronic condition like asthma or diabetes and get them to come in for regular checkups so that they do not suffer a relapse.

For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. call (855) 349-6019 or go online to LaSalleMedical.com.