[eon1]

The whole "getting a physical" annually is purely an old school American thing anyway. I don't know anyone in my country who does this - although apparently nowadays US med associations recommended you go visit a doctor every 5 years or so if you're under 40.

Still, if I walked into a doctor and said "is anything wrong with me?" with no symptoms or obvious indication that this might be so, they would probably take blood pressure, do a breathing test, ask me if anything was actually wrong, and then wonder why I was wasting their time (or maybe ask if I was looking for a medical certificate cos I didn't feel like going to work, heh).

[derefr]

Personally, I kind of wish my GP was there to help me optimize my health, rather than just to diagnose illness.

Like, all those dietary restrictions they give to people who've had heart attacks? Why not give them to me before I have a heart attack, so I won't ever get one? Make my life more of a hassle, so that I live longer!

I want to have someone in my life who plays the same role that a dental hygienist plays a dentist visit, but for my general physical health.

[eon1]

Okay.. so that kind of sounds like you need a dietician, which is someone you can ask your GP for a referral for, or in many cases just book an appointment with. Your GP doesn't send you to the dentist unless there's something so wrong with your teeth it's impacting the rest of your health; why would it be any different for your diet?

[DaUR]

> I want to have someone in my life who plays the same role that a dental hygienist plays a dentist visit, but for my general physical health.

You better not expect doctors to be that. Most of them still believe cholesterol causes heart disease, for example, or that you need 50% carbs in your diet.