King County is teaming with the nonprofit Puget Sound Health Alliance to present Own Your Health, a campaign to empower consumers to become active participants in their own health and health care.

Own Your Health by Visiting Your Primary Care Doctor

Ever watched one of those makeover TV shows? They find a person whose “friends” have turned them in for their horrible hairstyle or tacky clothes. The show surprises the victim with the promise of a new look and 15 minutes of fame.  One of the reasons these makeover shows are so popular is we all know people like this. They may look like they’ve let themselves go in some way, or don’t care about themselves enough.  We imagine, and the shows tell us, these people might not feel so good about themselves on the inside either.

Truth is many of us neglect or even ignore our own needs sometimes.

That can mean not making sure we get enough good sleep, not stretching even though our muscles feels so tight, not calling a friend for support, or even not taking our prescriptions.

It can also mean not regularly visiting our primary care doctor. Trouble is there are real consequences to that that can add up fast.

You may miss a vaccination you need (adults need them too). That mole on your back, the one you never look at, may have slightly changed color and shape. That’s an important detail your doctor can notice but that may slip past you when you’re on your own. And remember that sore shoulder you’ve been trying to deal with on your own? The one that’s secretly been the reason you haven’t exercised as much as you used to? Maybe your doctor can help your shoulder start to feel better, and even give you ideas on how to safely exercise while you heal. Your primary care doctor can listen and help.

Plus aging means new challenges, and certain tests need to happen at certain ages. Your life isn’t static. Your health care can’t be either. Your doctor needs to see you to help you.

If you’re not making the most of your primary care doctor’s skills and caring, ask yourself why. If you’re not going because you feel healthy now, remember it’s important to stay as healthy as you can. A little predictable time off for an appointment is better than unpredictable time off because of being sick. Many issues are best handled if discovered and addressed early on. It helps to start with your primary care doctor.

Visit the Own Your Health website for more, including the handy guides “How to Find the Right Primary Care Doctor for You” and “Nine Things You Can Do to Get Better Care.”