Annual Physical Exam
in St. James, MD

A annual physical exam (or annual well visit) is a routine check-up where a doctor or healthcare provider checks you for routine health issues and asks you basic questions about your health. During a physical exam, the doctor will most likely go over your medical history and ask you questions about the current state of your health. They'll also check vital signs like your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, as well as take a look at whether your skin appears healthy. You'll also get a head and neck exam, a lung exam (using a stethoscope), an abdominal exam, a neurological exam, and more. Women may get a breast and pelvic exam and men may get prostate, penis, testicular, and hernia exams.

Annual exams are important because they can help you find out about health issues early on so treatment can begin as soon as any problems are discovered. If you're overweight or you're at risk for diabetes, you'll most likely get a blood sugar test too. Everyone over the age of three should have a physical exam every year. At age 50, your doctor might start screening for colorectal cancer. At 40, women should begin getting regular mammogram screenings for breast cancer. Women ages 45 to 54 should get them yearly and women 55 and older should get them (at minimum) every two years.

More Details about Physical Exams

A physical examination is frequently done as part of a doctor's routine checkup. You can better prepare for your next medical appointment by learning more about what happens during a physical exam.

Physical examination

A physical examination is when your healthcare practitioner examines and studies your body to determine whether you have a physical health concern. Inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion are the four components of a physical examination, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Your doctor examines your body for concerns such as skin imperfections during the examination. According to the National Library of Medicine, palpation is the process of feeling your body with your fingers or hands, such as when a doctor feels for a tumor or mass.

Auscultation is a procedure in which your doctor listens to sounds, such as your heartbeat. Percussion entails making noises, such as tapping on various body parts. According to the National Library of Medicine, this is normally done to establish the size and consistency of your organs, as well as the presence or absence of fluids in specific locations.

The purpose of an annual physical exam

An annual physical exam, according to the National Library of Medicine, can help you detect and prevent health concerns you may not be aware of.

A yearly physical exam is used to check for diseases such as cancer and to see whether you are at risk for certain health issues such as diabetes. According to the National Library of Medicine, a yearly physical checkup allows you to stay up to date on vaccines and other preventative health treatments, as well as make good lifestyle choices that improve your overall health. Another advantage of getting an annual physical examination is that you can keep in constant contact with your doctor if you acquire an illness or chronic disease.

How to prepare for a physical examination

According to the National Library of Medicine, arriving prepared for your appointment can help you get the most out of your visit and avoid unnecessary follow-ups with your doctor.

First, go over your family's medical history and be ready to discuss any health conditions that run in your family, such as high blood pressure, cancer, or diabetes. According to the National Library of Medicine, your doctor may use this information to see if you're at risk for these same health issues.

The National Library of Medicine suggests that you check to see whether any general checkups or vaccines are needed. If you're not sure, call your doctor ahead of time so you can dress correctly or make extra arrangements if you need to go through specific tests.

Lastly, the NLM suggests writing down a list of issues and questions to mention during your appointment. For example, if you’ve been experiencing any new or different symptoms, write these down so your doctor can examine you for related health problems.

How a physical examination is performed

According to the National Library of Medicine, the manner in which your physical exam is conducted is mostly determined by your gender and age, due to changes in anatomy and health problems that affect different age groups.

Male examination

According to the National Library of Medicine, males between the ages of 18 and 39 have their height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) examined at every appointment. Males in this age bracket may be questioned about mental health issues such as depression, as well as their eating, exercise, and substance use habits. Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease may all be checked.

According to the National Library of Medicine, men aged 40 to 64 receive the same services as men aged 18 to 39, as well as screenings for colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. Men in their sixties and seventies may also be asked about their medications and whether they have recently fallen.

Female examination

At each checkup, females between the ages of 18 and 39 will have their height, weight, and BMI measured. According to the National Library of Medicine, females should have their blood pressure tested every one to two years, and cervical cancer screenings should begin at the age of 21. During their regular physical, females in this age bracket may also have diabetes and cholesterol screenings.

According to the National Library of Medicine, women between the ages of 40 and 64 receive all of the same services as younger women, as well as lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and osteoporosis screenings. Women over the age of 65 may be subjected to routine mammograms and may be asked about any medications they are taking.

Lab tests

Based on the findings of your physical exam, your doctor may prescribe lab tests to confirm or rule out one or more diseases. The NLM says that lab tests may be used as part of examinations for disorders like colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.

Before your appointment, call your doctor to find out if you'll be having lab tests and what they'll entail so you can make the required preparations.

Following up after a physical examination

If one of your screens or lab tests comes back positive or inconclusive, you may be contacted following your physical examination. In such cases, your doctor will contact you to discuss treatment options or to prescribe more testing and screening. Your doctor can tell you more about what to expect after your physical exam in terms of follow-up.