America's Healthcare Habits

Aches, pains, and weird lumps are telltale signs that it's time to go to the doctor. But when a cough isn't present and everything seems fine, going to the doctor for a checkup can seem completely pointless and, frankly, a waste of time and money. Patients worried about draining their pockets aren't the only ones questioning the necessity of yearly physicals or wellness checkups. Studies have found little evidence of these visits making an impact on prevention, and experts have even called for them to end.

Despite the debate, Americans' health and well-being are declining, and with talk of more affordable health care options, are people picking up the habit of visiting the doctor? To see how many people are checking up on their health, we evaluated 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which gathers information on the country's health and health care habits. Which states are getting the most checkups, and are they less likely to report poor health? For those skipping annual checkups, what is stopping them? Keep reading to find out.

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