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As the year winds down, many of us are laser-focused on holidays, family plans, or tying up loose ends at work. But there’s one checklist item that often gets overlooked: your health screenings.

Here’s the truth: many of the most common health issues in the U.S.—from heart disease to diabetes to skin cancer—develop silently. You may feel fine today, but without proper screenings, you could be missing important warning signs.

And with most insurance benefits resetting in January, now is the perfect time to use what you’ve already paid for. At AlphaMeD, we’re on a mission to help Arizonans take charge of their health—not just treat illness when it strikes.

Here are five screenings you probably didn’t realize you should schedule before year-end.

Beyond the Basics: Why Your Bloodwork Needs a Closer Look

Most annual checkups include routine bloodwork, but many providers only run the bare minimum. Digging deeper can reveal insights into your energy, metabolism, and long-term health.

Ask about:

• Vitamin D & B12 levels – Low levels can explain fatigue, mood changes, or brain fog.
  
• Thyroid function tests – Thyroid issues often go undiagnosed but affect weight, energy, and heart health.
• Comprehensive cholesterol panel – Go beyond “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Advanced panels show triglycerides and particle size, key indicators of cardiovascular risk.

💡Pro Tip: Don’t just accept “your labs are normal.” Always ask: What’s my number? Where should it be?

Silent Threats: Screenings for Heart Health & Diabetes You Might Be Missing

Heart disease remains the #1 killer in the U.S.—yet many of its warning signs are invisible until it’s too late. The same goes for Type 2 diabetes, which often develops gradually.

Key screenings to schedule:

• Blood pressure check – Even slightly elevated numbers increase your risk of stroke and heart attack.
  
• HbA1c test – Reveals your average blood sugar over 3 months. It’s the gold standard for spotting prediabetes early.
  
• Cholesterol & lipid profile – High cholesterol rarely has symptoms but silently damages your arteries over time.
  

🚨 Catching these silent threats early means you can take simple steps—like lifestyle changes or medication—before major complications develop.

From Head to Toe: Overlooked Screenings for Skin, Vision, and Hearing

We tend to focus on the “big” tests, but your skin, eyes, and ears also hold critical health clues.

• Skin checks – Arizona’s sun exposure is no joke. A quick exam can catch early melanoma or skin cancers when they’re most treatable.
  
• Vision exams – Blurry vision may be more than needing new glasses. It can signal diabetes, hypertension, or neurological issues.
• Hearing tests – Gradual hearing loss is linked not just to communication problems but also balance issues and even cognitive decline.

Why Now Is the Time to Act

Health screenings aren’t about finding problems—they’re about preventing them. The end of the year is your opportunity to:
✔️ Use your insurance benefits before they reset in January
✔️ Get ahead of silent risks like diabetes or heart disease
✔️ Start the new year empowered with a full picture of your health

At the Scottsdale location of AlphaMeD, you can access primary care services like annual physicals and lab work.

Need urgent care for minor illness or injury? Our urgent care clinics valley-wide are here to help you feel better fast.

👉 Don’t wait until January. Schedule your screening today at AlphaMeD’s Scottsdale location. Because better health starts with knowing where you stand.