Why Are Annual Physical Examinations Important?

People act quickly when visiting the doctor if they are unwell or feeling down. But even if you're feeling fine, staying in touch with your doctor is imperative. Because an appointment with a doctor periodically isn't just a formality but a chance to check in with your healthcare provider, talk about any concerns you may have, and make plans for your preventative care need in the future. No matter what state of health you are in right now, getting an annual checkup gives you a great insight into your health and wellness.

Here is a holistic guide that covers several prominent aspects of annual physical examinations to help you understand their importance.

Why Should You Care About an Annual Physical Examination?

A comprehensive physical examination offers you a snapshot of your health in general. Ideally, medical checkups should get scheduled at intervals determined by the individual's age and the severity of their health issues.

• As a primary benefit, it can help you avoid developing life-threatening diseases by spotting warning signs of conditions like diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease before they even begin developing. 
• When you go in for a checkup, you get the chance to let your physician know if you have any medical concerns at the moment. The physician will evaluate your current diet, how much alcohol you consume, any other habits, and family history if required.
• They examine if your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels fall within the healthy ranges. Any irregularities in these will lead them to investigate further. Your primary care physician is also responsible for monitoring your child's immunization record. 
• Without annual physicals, many health issues may worsen for weeks or years before being detected.

How Do Doctors Perform an Annual Physical Exam?

When a doctor performs a complete physical checkup on a patient, there are several procedures that they will carry out to gain a comprehensive understanding of the patient's current state of health. Your weight and height will be measured as part of the preliminary evaluation that the doctors will perform. In addition, they could inquire about your family's medical history and any illnesses or sensitivities you may possess. 

Your doctor will probably also question you regarding your lifestyle choices, such as whether or not you smoke, your sexual health, your diet, and how often you work out.

After the preliminary examination, they will continue to assess a multitude of other significant aspects of the patient's health, including:

Vital Health Indications

Your doctor will check several vital signs, including the following:

• Blood pressure - A healthy blood pressure level reading is less than 120 over less than 80. Medical professionals consider a blood pressure reading of 130 over 80 or greater to be high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Respiration rate - A healthy adult should take between 12 to 16 breaths per minute as their usual respiratory rate. A rate higher than 20 times per minute may indicate a problem with the heart or the lungs.
• Heart rate - The levels around 60 and 100 for your heart rate are regarded as normal. However, there are a lot of healthy people who have heart rates that are lower than 60.
• Body temperature - The average temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, healthy individuals can still have resting temperatures that are a bit higher or lower than this.

General Appearance

Simply by observing you and asking you questions, your doctor can obtain significant details concerning you and your health. You can expect questions like “How would you rate your mental agility and memory? Does it look like your skin is healthy? Are you able to stand and walk without difficulty?”

Lung Examination

Utilizing a stethoscope, the clinician could listen for any cough, wheezing, crackles, or diminished breath sounds in the patient. These sounds, along with a variety of others, may indicate the presence of a lung or cardiac condition.

Heart Examination

A doctor can identify signs of heart disease by hearing your heart using a stethoscope. These signs may include abnormal heart rhythms, a heart murmur, or other indications.

Head and Neck Examination

When you open your mouth wide and utter "ah," it reveals your throat and your tonsils. The condition of your gums and teeth can also be used to infer details about your general state of health. In addition to this, the carotid arteries, the ear, nose, and sinuses, as well as the lymph nodes, eyes, and thyroid, could be inspected.

Neurological Examination

The physician evaluates the patient's nerves, reflexes, muscular strength, balance, and psychological functioning.

Abdominal Examination

Your physician may perform several types of examinations on you, such as pressing your abdomen to determine the size of your liver and the amount of abdominal fluid, checking for bowel noises with a stethoscope, and palpating for tenderness.

Dermatological Examination

Observations made of the skin and nails may point to a dermatological condition or another disease occurring elsewhere in the body.

Extremities Examination

Your physician will check your body for any changes, both physical and sensory. They could check your pulse in your limbs. Also, a thorough checkup of joints is a great way to look for abnormalities.

Laboratory Tests 

Usually, during the course of an annual physical examination, there are no routine laboratory tests performed. On the other hand, some physicians will frequently prescribe tests like Complete Blood Count (CBC), Urinalysis (UA), Chemistry panel, etc. In the absence of symptoms that already point to an issue, it is uncertain whether these tests will yield any relevant health information.

In addition, a screening lipid panel, also known as a cholesterol test, should be performed every four to six years. However, if you exhibit risk indicators for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may examine you more intensively. 

Also, your blood sugar will most likely be examined if you are overweight or if you have any other conditions that put you at risk for diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly suggests that individuals over 18 get tested for Hepatitis C at some stage. While having one of your physical examinations, you might experience it.

Gender-specific Examinations

A man's annual physical examination might consist of-

• Testicular exam - Examining each testicle to look for tumors, discomfort, or size changes.
• Penis exam - Testing for symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, including warts or ulcers. 
• Hernia exam - Checking the area between the intestines and the scrotum for any signs of weakening in the abdominal wall.
• Prostate exam - Checking the prostate for its size and looking for any abnormal spots.

A woman's annual physical examination could include the following.

• Bone density test - To check for osteopenia and osteoporosis developing in the body.
• Pelvic exam - It includes routine checks for STDs.
• Breast exam - Detecting breast cancer or other abnormal breast disorders. 

Who Needs to Schedule an Annual Physical Examination?

The medical community generally considers that those over the age of 65 should see a doctor for an annual health screening once per year. In some cases, a comprehensive physical examination is recommended twice per year. It is advised that adults over the age of 25 receive an annual exam every 1-3 years, while those in their teens and early twenties should do so every two to three years. Kids' visits to the doctor for checkups and immunizations tend to be more frequent than those of adults since they need to be vaccinated against known vaccine-preventable diseases.

What to Expect after Your Annual Physical Examination?

If you're facing any health issues, your doctor may be able to provide you with some suggestions for how to improve your lifestyle. Also, in your post-visit review, you will summarize the following topics that are covered.

• Expectations and objectives for one's health
• Helpful advice for addressing your health issues
• Freshly prescribed medications
• Proper immunizations, laboratory tests, and medical referrals
• When to visit for your next appointment.

Your primary care physician (PCP) will archive all your conversations with them to get a holistic overview of your health, both right now and in the future. Consequently, the topics covered during this consultation may well be revisited at the subsequent one.

Conclusion

Mostly, the medical care costs incurred for regular tests and screenings are way less costly than the expenses associated with the treatment of diseases. Also, it's not just about money but your and your family's overall well-being. Prevention is always better than cure. So, maintain a schedule of checkups at regular intervals, as well as an annual comprehensive physical examination. You will be able to obtain the most credible medical advice in this manner.

Rocky Vista Health Center is here to offer you all the support you need, including consultation, diagnostics, and holistic care if you are seeking experienced guidance from a trusted and reliable provider. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.