When individuals say they are healthy, what they will do is they will declare they are eating well, they are exercising, or they are taking vitamins. One of the most significant aspects of being healthy, however, is something very elementary: going to your doctor for a physical checkup. A physical checkup is going to your doctor where your body is examined top to bottom to ensure everything is functioning properly.
For all of us, it is typically annually but less often with progressive age, overall health, and lifestyle. It is a chance to prevent illness down the line, find trouble before it becomes serious, and to talk about your health with a doctor without anxiety.
What Is a Physical Exam?
A physical is a yearly office visit to your doctor, nurse practitioner, or other health care provider. It is to see how your overall health is doing, catch problems early, and track ones you already have.
It generally involves having a look at your past, having a look at your vitals (blood pressure and heart rate) and observing parts of your body, and occasionally ordering lab work like blood or urine work somewhere along the line.
The concept as a whole isn’t just to be used to diagnose illness, but to prevent people from becoming ill and making sure you are healthy.
Why Are Physical Exams Important?
Most illnesses won’t appear during this first checkup. Hypertension, diabetes, and even cancers may creep up without obvious symptoms. A checkup allows doctors to catch such ailments early when they are more easily treatable.
It also allows you and your doctor to build a rapport. You may talk about life style, attitude, family history, and small things you may have picked up.
What Is a Physical Exam Like?
Physical examinations are age-, sex-, and health-general-dependent, but most visits include the following:
Medical History
Your physician will inquire about your health, your medical history, habits, medications, allergies, and your chief complaints.
Vital Signs
They are:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Respiratory rate
- Temperature
These give the physician an understanding whether your body is functioning in normal ranges.
General Appearance
Some clues can be picked up just by looking at you. Your skin color, posture, gait, or tone of speech might tell your doctor something about your sickness, for example.
Chest and Lung Exam
The physician listens over the stethoscope to your heart and lungs. This is to observe if there is any heart murmur, abnormal heart, or shortness of breath.
Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
Eyes are checked with a light, ears with an otoscope, and throat for infection or swelling.
Abdomen
Your abdomen is pressed against organs by the doctor in a soft manner to know about pain, swelling, or abnormality.
Neurological Exam
Your muscle strength, reflexes, and coordination are checked.
Skin Exam
Your skin is always checked by doctors for rash, infection, or abnormal moles.
Further Tests
Sometimes blood, urine, or imaging studies are prescribed. It is based on your risk and medical status.
Physical Exam Types
There are many types of exams for many different reasons:
- Annual Checkup: Routine checkup of general health once a year.
- Sports Physical: For kids or adults prior to doing sports, to determine fitness and safety.
- Work Physical: Certain workplaces require it to evaluate employees’ ability to perform work activity.
- School Physical: First year of school or new school year for kids.
- Special Exams: Pregnancy test, illness, or pre-surgery screening.
Physical Exams by Age
- Children: Growth and development, vaccination, and general things such as vision or hearing are what physicians seek.
- Teenagers: Adolescence development, mental status, involvement in sports, and sex education are the concerns.
- Adults: Cholesterol screening, blood pressure, cancer screening, lifestyle counseling, and prevention of chronic illness.
- Older adults: More emphasis on memory, mobility, bone density, and age-related disease.
Also Read: Davie Medical Center: Providing High-Quality Health Care to the Community
Benefits of It
- Early identification of underlying disease.
- Getting familiar with your physician.
- Immunization catch-up.
- Chronic disease monitoring, such as diabetes or asthma.
- Feeling safe having your health monitored on an ongoing basis.
Preparation for a Physical Exam
You can make your visit less complex by preparing:
- Bring a list of medications that you are currently taking.
- Make a list of your questions or issues you want to talk with your doctor about.
- Take your medical history with you.
- Put on loose, comfortable clothes.
- Don’t eat a large meal and consume caffeinated coffee beforehand.
How Long Does It Take?
Physical exams take 20-45 minutes. Longer if they must do other testing or not.
Do You Always Need Lab Tests?
No. Others only checkup and vital signs. Others will have blood, urine, or imaging if you have risk factors.
Physical Exam vs. Specialist Visits
The physical is a checkup. It does not replace specialist visits. Example:
- A dentist examines your teeth.
- An eye doctor examines your eyes.
- A gynecologist examines the female reproductive system.
But your routine care doctor can refer you to specialists for further testing after a physical if something is abnormal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to get a physical exam?
Most adults should have done one annually. But your doctor will require more or less depending on your health.
Do kids require physicals?
Yes, for school and sports, and for routine development check-ups.
Are physicals painful?
No, they are fast, painless, and simple. There are a few tests that involve a small needle stick.
Can I eat before a physical?
Yes, for the most part, unless your doctor needs you to fast for blood work.
Is a physical insured?
Preventative physicals are usually covered under the majority of insurance policies. So go ahead and schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Conclusion
A physical is really the simplest and most helpful thing. You can do it to stay healthy. It helps you and your doctor to catch problems early. So they don’t become large ones, avoid disease, and keep healthy habits.
From birth to old age, these checkups set you on the right track. School, sports, career, or peace of mind, don’t forget your physical checkup. It’s an easy step that will make a big difference in your life.
