Healthcare professionals highly recommend that everyone, regardless of age, have annual physicals Kingwood done each year. Physical exams are crucial because they help determine your health status, give way to intervention, and prevent any health issues. Further, a physical exam enables you to foster a relationship with your primary care physician, an essential factor in patient engagement. Through routine physical examinations, you will have open communication with your doctor and a chance to share information regarding your symptoms and overall health. Physical examinations are also essential to update immunizations and check for possible illnesses before symptoms appear.
Why are physicals important?
Most people only visit their doctors when they are sick and need treatment. This may be every few months for others or once every few years. However, you don’t have to wait until symptoms appear; an annual physical exam is essential. It helps your doctor assess your health condition and establish areas that need attention to avoid future complications. For example, during a physical exam, your doctor will:
- Measure the force of blood against your arteries (blood pressure).
- Measure the amount of bad and good cholesterol in your blood.
- Measure your blood glucose levels. If the glucose levels in your blood are higher than usual, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes like eating healthy and exercising to reverse prediabetes. Without intervention, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes, which has no cure.
- Measure your body mass index by comparing your weight to your height. Weight and height are standard measurements but provide a baseline and way to monitor your health. For example, significant weight changes can indicate health problems.
Health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar may not cause any symptoms but can cause serious medical problems in the future when left unchecked. Annual physical exams let your doctor assess these factors, ensuring they are within normal ranges. If any of them fall above or below average, your physician will guide you on bringing them back to normal ranges. For example, if you have high levels of bad cholesterol, your doctor may advise cutting your intake of unsaturated fats and having saturated fats instead. You want to eat foods like red meat, butter, and lard in moderation.
Besides checking your vitals, your doctor also reviews your medications and immunization records during a physical exam. Your healthcare provider will review all your medicines, including supplements, to ensure they are prescribed in the proper dosages and do not cause health problems. Although immunizations are typically more of a children’s focus, some adults may also benefit from certain vaccines based on their age, immunization records, and health factors.
What to bring during a visit to your doctor
If you are planning a physical examination, it is essential to adequately prepare, so you get the most out of the session with your doctor. Bringing the proper documents and information helps your physician make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. Below is a list of what you can bring to the appointment.
- A list of all your medications; this includes over-the-counter, prescribed drugs, herbal medications, and supplements.
- List of symptoms
- Relevant results from previous tests
- Any questions
Book an appointment with your physician at Supreme All Care for a physical exam to improve your health.
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