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When Did You Last Have a Checkup? Here’s Why That Question Matters More Than You Think
When Jerilyn Summers asks her patients this question, most of them pause. They think. Then they say something like, “It’s been a while”, and look slightly guilty about it.
She wants you to know: there’s no judgment here. Life gets busy, you feel fine, and looking for an annual checkup in Orlando can sound exhausting. We get it.
But here’s what we see every single week in our clinic at UCF Health, and why we keep asking.
Table of contents
- When Did You Last Have a Checkup? Here’s Why That Question Matters More Than You Think
- What Actually Happens When You Skip Your Annual Visit
- “But I Feel Fine” — Why That’s Not Enough
- What We Actually Check at Your Annual Visit
- What Makes UCF Health Different
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Meet Jerelyn Summers
- Ready to Book?
What Happens When You Skip Your Annual Checkup in Orlando?
Most people avoid checkups because they feel healthy. That logic makes sense, until it doesn’t.
High blood pressure has no symptoms in most people. Neither does prediabetes in its early stages. Thyroid dysfunction can quietly explain months of fatigue, brain fog, and weight changes that you’ve been writing off as stress or aging.
These aren’t rare conditions. They’re some of the most common things I find when a patient comes in “just to check.”
And every one of those patients left grateful they came in when they did, because we caught it before it became something harder to manage.
Read More: The Silent Signs of High Blood Pressure — And Why So Many People Miss Them
“But I Feel Fine” — Why That’s Not Enough
Feeling fine is great. It’s genuinely a good sign. But it’s not the same as being fine — and that’s not me trying to scare you.
Think of your annual checkup the way you think about your car’s oil change. You don’t wait until the engine light comes on. You maintain it on a schedule because you know that catching small problems early is always cheaper — and less stressful — than fixing a big one later.
Your body works the same way.
What We Actually Check at Your Annual Visit
Here is what you can expect when you schedule a routine annual checkup in Orlando at our UCF Health clinic
- Blood pressure — One of the most commonly missed conditions because it has zero symptoms until it’s a crisis
- Blood sugar levels — To catch prediabetes and diabetes early, when lifestyle changes can make a real difference
- Cholesterol panel — A key indicator of cardiovascular risk
- Thyroid function — Especially important for women, and often the answer to unexplained fatigue or weight changes
- Weight and BMI — Tracked over time to spot trends before they become problems
- Current medications — A review to make sure everything is still working and not interacting
- Preventive screenings — Based on your age, sex, and family history
This is also your time to bring anything up. That thing you’ve been meaning to ask about for six months? This is the appointment for it.
Read More: Prediabetes: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Stop It Before It Starts
What Makes UCF Health Different
I know the reputation primary care has — rushed appointments, generic advice, feeling like a number.
That’s not what we do here. At UCF Health, you’re not getting squeezed into a 7-minute slot. You get a provider who actually listens, asks follow-up questions, and builds a plan around your specific life — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
You also have the backing of one of the most respected academic health systems in Florida. That means if something comes up that requires a specialist, we have a full team behind you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most adults should see their primary care provider once a year for a wellness visit, even when feeling well. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension, you may need to come in more frequently.
A wellness visit focuses on prevention — reviewing your health history, risk factors, and creating a plan. A physical includes a hands-on exam of your vitals and body systems, and may include bloodwork. At UCF Health, Dr. Summers conducts both.
Yes. As an APRN with graduate-level training, Dr. Summers can diagnose, prescribe, order labs, manage chronic conditions, and provide full primary care — everything you’d expect from a physician.
Read More: What Is a Nurse Practitioner, and Can They Be My Primary Care Provider?
Especially then. Establishing a baseline while you’re healthy makes it much easier to catch changes early. It also means you have a provider who already knows you when something comes up.
Meet Jerelyn Summers
- English
Ready to Book?
If you’ve been putting this off, consider this your sign.
It doesn’t have to be a big deal. We’ll check in, see where you’re at, and make a plan together. That’s it.
UCF Health is currently accepting new patients. Book your first visit here or call us at 407-266-DOCS (3627).
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- annual physical check up health health tip healthy choices primary care primary care doctor Orlando FL