A physical exam is a wellness check to assess your overall health. It is a routine exam mostly recommended annually. It is performed by a primary care provider (PCP) and takes about 30 minutes. A physical is mainly done to maintain good overall health, get vaccinations, and look for any possible health concerns.
A physical exam is one of the most essential health check-ups recommended for people. Going for your wellness check each year (annually) can help you be healthy and avoid serious health risks. Following are a few reasons to have annual physical exams. To schedule your physical exam, speak to a professional at spring family medicine today.
Reasons to have an annual physical exam
- Learn about any possible health risks.
There are chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, etc., that have the possibility of becoming fatal over time and often go unnoticed initially because of no symptoms. A primary care provider, who may be a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, is trained to detect and control these issues. An annual physical exam helps your provider spot and manage these risk factors early on and manage them.
- Vaccinations and other preventive screenings
Vaccines help to protect us from infectious diseases. Most people worldwide have had vaccinations for MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) and polio as kids, but we need booster shots and vaccines as adults for infections like Covid-19, Flu, Shingles, Hepatitis B, and Pneumonia. Your healthcare provider will review your vaccination status to keep them in check.
Other preventive screenings for women include:
- Breast Exam: To check for risk of breast cancer by looking/feeling for abnormal lumps around your breasts.
- Pelvic Exam: To check for STIs by examining the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva, and the risk of cervical cancer through HPV and Pap tests.
Preventive screenings for men include:
- Prostate Exam: To look for signs of prostate cancer by inserting a finger in the rectum to feel the size of the prostate.
- Penis Exam: To look for STIs like ulcers or warts on the penis.
- Make necessary lifestyle changes.
Talk to your PCP about healthy lifestyle changes you can adapt to prevent future health complications, improve overall health, and keep in good shape. Discuss daily exercises you can do to improve your sleep cycle and mood and feel better physically and emotionally.
- Build a good relationship with your doctor
Communicating with your doctor builds trust, establishes a connection between you and your doctor, and provides an opportunity to discuss your healthcare preferences. Maintaining a solid relationship with your primary care provider can benefit you when there is something wrong, and you need medical attention.
