Stacy Mickey
Life gets busy with work, kids, school, activities and family—I understand completely—but all too often, our health gets put on the back burner and a true physical, targeted at prevention, gets squeezed out.
In family medicine, we are perfectly trained to address preventative health for the whole family. We are trained in pediatrics, gynecology, adult medicine and psychiatry.
A true physical should address every body system, discuss your family history, as well as your diet and lifestyle decisions, and ensure you have received the age-appropriate immunizations. All of this information guides us as physicians to understand how to make suggestions or offer advice to reduce your risk of disease.
Annual physicals should start at the age of 11 and continue throughout your life. The first part of the physical is your height, weight and blood pressure.
Blood work may be ordered, depending on certain risk factors your physician determines based on your exam and history. Many diseases, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, have subtle or no symptoms at all.
We don’t have screenings for every type of cancer, but for some cancers, such as cervical, breast, colon, prostate, skin and lung, there are screening tests available. The guidelines on how and when to screen for these cancers are constantly evolving. A discussion with your primary care physician can help you understand when and if certain screening tests are right for you.
Lifestyle decisions are also part of a physical. We all know diet and exercise are important, but the information on what kind of diet and how much exercise is more difficult, and frankly, evolving, as well.
There is increasingly more information that a low carbohydrate diet, with more liberal intake of healthy fats, may lower your risk of diabetes, heart disease, dementia and even death.
It is never too late to start exercising. Actually, the biggest benefit comes from moving from the couch to any level of activity at all. What about coffee? Alcohol? How can I quit smoking? These all are things that should be discussed at your physical.
Start by calling us and scheduling an appointment at (480) 999-0049. We will help you get started on the path, or continue on the path, to optimal good health.
About Dr. Stacy Mickey
Dr. Stacy Mickey has been practicing family medicine in the East Valley since 2003. Growing up in Iowa, she attended the University of Iowa for her undergraduate degree in psychology, as well as for her medical degree. She completed her residency training in Greensboro, N.C. She enjoys seeing patients of all ages, and has special interests in pediatrics and women’s health.
Dr. Mickey keeps busy with her four children. When not at work, she usually can be found cheering them on at an ice rink or soccer field. She also enjoys playing golf, reading, cooking and cheering on her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes.