My primary care physician is like a superhero to me. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true! The truth of the matter is that my PCP has saved my life multiple times over, and without him, I would be in a much worse place than I am now. So today I’m here to tell you why every single person needs a primary care physician as part of their health team—and why mine is so valuable to me.

Health Screenings

Health screenings are an important part of maintaining good health. They can help you catch diseases early, when they’re easier to treat. The earlier you detect a problem, the better your chances are at beating it!

Health screenings include:

• Blood pressure checks (every six months) – If your blood pressure is too high or too low, it can be dangerous for your heart and brain. High blood pressure puts stress on these organs and can lead to other health problems like heart disease and stroke. If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause serious damage over time. 

Wellness Counseling

One of the most important things that primary care physicians do is wellness counseling, says Nihar Gala. They can help you make changes to your lifestyle and diet, so that you stay healthy and avoid chronic diseases.

Wellness counseling can also help you live longer. A study found that people who had regular checkups with their doctor were less likely to die early than those who didn’t get as many visits.

Medication Management

The best thing about a primary care physician is that they can help you manage your medications. If you are having trouble with them, or if you are experiencing side effects, the doctor will be able to adjust the dosage and find something that works better for your body,according toNihar Gala.

Getting Lab Tests Done Quickly

Having a primary care physician is important for many reasons, but one of my favorite things about having one is that I can get lab tests done quickly. I don’t have to go through the hassle of finding a specialist and scheduling an appointment with them just for a blood test or other routine test. My PCP takes care of everything for me!

Access To Specialists

If you’re one of the many who suffer from a chronic condition like asthma, diabetes or heart disease and need special care for it, you know that specialists are hard to come by. You may not be able to get an appointment with a specialist in a timely manner or even at all.

Many people have experienced this problem firsthand: I know someone who has been trying for over three years now–and paying out-of-pocket costs–to see an endocrinologist because she hasn’t been able to get into one through her insurance company. There are numerous reasons why physicians don’t want their patients’ primary care physicians involved with their cases; however, none of them are good enough reasons on which we should base our healthcare system!