It’s probably fair to say that most of us feel like we’re pretty responsible when it comes to our health – after all, we always remember to book the important appointments, perhaps we take vitamins, we drink enough water (or try to, anyway), but the truth is, so many health checks get forgotten because they’re not causing any problems right now.

On top of that, life is so busy, which means it’s easy to just say you’ll sort things out later when things have calmed down – but when is that actually going to be? Look at your calendar and you might find it’s not for a while yet… And the trouble is that these delays can easily turn into years if we’re not careful, and that can lead to some serious health conditions that could have been avoided. With that in mind, keep reading to learn more about the everyday health checks we forget about but really shouldn’t.

Hearing Checks

Hearing doesn’t usually get worse overnight or in a short span of time, it just goes bit by bit, often so slowly that you’re not going to notice it’s happening until it really starts to affect your life – perhaps you can’t hear conversations as well as you once could, for example, or maybe you’re starting to turn the volume up on the TV more and more. The truth is, a lot of adults wait far too long before they get their hearing tested because they think it’s not that bad yet, but the longer you wait, the more your brain has to adapt, which means it’s working harder than it should be.

And there’s a bigger problem that people don’t often think about too – the costs of untreated hearing loss. That’s not just the financial side of needing more help, but there’s also an emotional cost, the strain on relationships, and how mentally draining it is to keep trying to keep up. But a quick hearing test once a year is easy, painless, and it can prevent all that, so it’s well worth making time for.

Skin Checks

Skin changes are another thing we tend to downplay as much as we can – that small mole that looks a bit darker or that bit of dry skin that wasn’t a problem before surely can’t be anything serious, can it? Well, it can, and waiting until there’s a definite problem is never a good idea because early detection is the best path to the right treatment and a positive outcome.

Of course, you don’t want to start getting totally obsessed with every freckle and mark, but doing a simple head-to-toe check at home once a month only takes a couple of minutes, so everyone can find the time to fit it in (and add it to your calendar to make sure you don’t forget if you need to). If there’s anything new, itchy, bleeding, or changing, then it’s definitely worth getting checked out – the important thing to remember is that a checkup could save a life.

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a big problem, but it’s also a problem that people won’t necessarily know is affecting them until something big and potentially dangerous happens – like a stroke, for example. Most of the time, high blood pressure is actually only noticed when someone checks for it, but that’s crucial because if it is high, you can learn what you need to do and change in your life to improve it, and some people need medication – all of that’s going to hopefully prevent or at least reduce the chances of a stroke or other illnesses.

You can go to a doctor to get checked, but if it’s easier, you can invest in a home monitor, and checking a couple of times a month means you’ll get a good idea of what’s happening and where you are. If there’s a problem and something’s different or it’s all very high, seeing a doctor for specialist advice is the best thing to do.

Dental Appointments

You don’t need to be suffering from a bad toothache to justify making a dentist appointment. In fact, by the time something hurts, it’s usually already a problem, which is why it’s best to go to regular appointments for a checkup, just to make sure all is well. Plus, not only will your teeth be checked, but so will your gums, tongue, and entire mouth and jaw. That’s going to help spot any issues which could lead to much larger problems, especially when you remember that gum disease can cause heart problems – everything’s connected.

It’s amazing how many people put off going to the dentist for years because they’re busy (or worried about what’s going to be found), but there’s nothing worse for derailing plans than toothache or any other dental pain – a quick check twice a year or so is going to prevent most of it.

Eye Tests

Your eyes are another part of the body that changes gradually, and you might not actually notice any kind of blurring, straining, or tiny changes in how clear your vision is until you get an exam and realise how much easier everything looks with the right correction in place. And as with most health checks, eye tests aren’t just about your vision either – they can help detect the signs of early diabetes, high blood pressure, and other conditions well before there’s any other symptoms.

So even if you don’t think there’s anything much wrong with your eyesight, it’s worth booking a regular eye test, just to make sure. And if you’re rubbing your eyes a lot or getting frequent headaches, then it could be your vision that’s causing it, so definitely go and see an expert about it.

Mental Health

Mental health can very often fall to the bottom of the list of health checks, and that’s especially worrying when health checks are already at the bottom of most to do lists anyway. But the fact is that your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and it needs to be checked the same way.

That might be seeing a therapist, for example, or it could be speaking to your doctor about any worries and concerns you might have. Or perhaps you’ll join a group (online or in real life) or just make time to chat with friends and family. Whatever you do, it’s all going to help your mental health, so don’t forget about it just because you’re busy.