The Hidden Cost of Missed Follow-Ups

It’s the season of end-of-year deadlines, holiday travel, and last-minute gift runs. The temptation to say, “I’ll take care of it next year” is real, but postponing important follow-up appointments can carry hidden costs for your health.

Missed check-ins aren’t just inconvenient. For people of all ages, they can delay early detection of issues, disrupt chronic condition management, and increase stress on your body when you need it least.

👀 Research shows that missing follow-up appointments, especially repeatedly, for chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, is linked to a significantly higher risk of serious complications and even premature death.

Delaying routine check-ins can allow manageable issues to go unnoticed until they become urgent, making treatment harder and often more expensive.

The good news? You can stay on track this holiday season.

Tips if you need to reschedule:

💙 Move appointments to a realistic date and actually schedule them, not just “sometime after the holidays” 💙 Keep up with medications, monitoring, and routines even during travel. Use telehealth when possible: Virtual check-ins help you stay connected without extra travel. 💙 Communicate with your care team and let them know your schedule. Many clinics offer flexibility. 💙 Prioritize key screenings: Don’t skip bloodwork, vitals, or other routine assessments that keep chronic conditions in check.

Your health doesn’t take a holiday. So, keep it top of mind so you can step into the New Year strong, healthy, and in control.

Study on how missing doctors’ appointments increases the risk of death: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190111112849.htm