The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced many to change their routines, rescheduling or canceling a lot of appointments, from haircuts to doctor visits. Eric R. Goldberg, MD, medical director of NYU Langone Internal Medicine Associates, speaks to HuffPost about what to prioritize if you have been neglecting your healthcare.

The first thing to do is to get any alarming symptoms checked out. Waiting to get any new or serious symptoms looked at can have an impact on your health outcomes. Issues with urine or stool, chest pain or heart palpitations, new moles or lumps, and signs of a pre-stroke episode—such as blurred vision, slurred speech, or weakness in one side of the body—should not go unaddressed.

Experts recommend getting a checkup as soon as you can, even if you feel well. Scheduling regular appointments with a general practitioner and getting seen for any chronic illnesses or anything high risk can drastically improve your health outcomes.

“A year ago, when we were in the height of things, it was understandable to let things wait. But now the waiting time is over,” says Dr. Goldberg, also a clinical associate professor in NYU Langone’s Department of Medicine. “People need to connect with their physicians and see what they’re due for.”

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