Annual physical examinations are general body exams performed every year. By getting a yearly physical exam, you get to understand your health status, and catch serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The exam examines your overall health by taking into account your age, previous illness, family history, and current medications. Without a physical exam Upper East Side, a lot of health problems can go unnoticed until they become life-threatening.
What Your Doctor Does During a Physical Exam
If a doctor completes your physical exam, they conduct different tests to properly understand your health state. They will measure your height and weight as well as ask about the medical history of your family. Also, they will ask about any allergies or illnesses you have. Your physical examination also includes testing major health indicators like cholesterol levels, blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, and glucose levels. After evaluating such variables, your doctor can identify most health issues.
What the Exam Includes
Your annual physical examination includes the following:
- Review your medical history. Your doctor will ask about recent health issues like allergies, new medications you are taking, and recent surgeries.
- Check vital signs. Your doctor will take your vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate. Also, they check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels to identify possible diseases.
- Perform physical examinations. Your doctor will inspect and asses your health. Your throat, ears, eyes, hair, and skin will be examined to determine the existence of any abnormalities.
Exam Duration
Doctors suggest that those who are over 65 must get a yearly physical examination once or twice every year. People who are more than 25 years old must get an exam every 1-3 years. Meanwhile, children are recommended to have regular exams because of vaccinations.
Why Physical Exams are Important
Yearly physical examinations help your primary care doctor determine your health status. Also, they give you the chance to discuss any symptoms or discomfort you are experiencing and other health concerns with your doctor. Physical examinations for people who are more than 50 years old are meant to detect possible illnesses, determine issues that may result in medical problems, as well as ensure a person is eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise. For children, these examinations make sure that the growth and development of the child are on track. Also, these allow kids and parents to build connections with their primary care physicians.
