Full GP Health Checks??????

I guess one good argument for going is to establish base line values in your medical history. For example you mention alcohol. One thing they do in such checks is give values related to your liver based on a blood test (ALP, AST, ALT if memory serves). When you go back for tests at 40 42 45 or whatever they will then have that medical history to compare to. Because everyones values are different you might have what looks like a "normal" result on your second visit years later - which would not raise any red flags - but if in fact they are significantly different to your earlier tests it might highlight a point of concern a doctor might otherwise miss.

So when at any point in your life something actually does start to decline or go wrong the GP will have those baseline values to compare back again. Which is better for them than having to diagnose blind with no medical history.

From my experience and from all the science papers I have read - taking vitamins does basically nothing but waste money for the vast majority of us who have no underlying issues or requirements for them. In fact some vitamins can over work some organs - both that vitamin alone - but sometimes when combined with others too (as in some are not as bad in isolation but when you are taking both the potential for harm goes up). Especially if you are taking them daily over a long period of time. So it is probably good to have some checks to establish baselines to show everything is ok there too.

If you feel your GP is old school then by all means change GP. No reason to have to stick to one. And in fact if you want to choose one now that you want to stick with long term - it is probably best to start a relationship with one who is not likely to die or retire some day soon :)

In fact I always tend to have two GPs at any one time. I prefer to have one that is entirely foreign and studied in a country far away from the other. I have always believed in second medical opinions. But I have also believed that if you get 10 medical opinions from 10 doctors who all studied in the same place - then you are actually still getting one medical opinion effectively. So I keep my doctors as diverse as possible.

And in fact the final argument for starting to get regular check ups now - is that it gives you time to evaluate and try out different doctors to find the one you have a repoire with and feel comfortable with. Some doctors are simply bad doctors. They are not engaged or they are shills for some medicine or another or they are over bearing or whatever. You want to find one you feel good with - who is engaged and supportive and not rushing you out the door - so when you do finally want a doctor for something real you already have that relationship there.

Here is a comedy video with a serious message on that note actually that just came out this week: