Annual Physical

Prevention is better than cure; getting an annual physical exam is a great way to check our body’s performance. It is one of our reassurances that we are healthy. Every man and woman who values their health will undergo routine exam. An annual exam may constitute screening test, history taking, and lifestyle advice that can be compared to last year’s result.

Annual Physical exam is also a form of benchmarking; it enables collaboration between the physician and patient to coordinate a personal healthcare plan suitable for ones need. During a Physical Exam you will undergo different sets of test and you will be interviewed by your doctor to assess your bodily function and wellness.

Annual exam will start with History taking. This is your opportunity to tell your physician what you’re feeling, your worries about your body, concerns about your health, etc. Your physician will also ask you about the medical history of you and your family.

Vital Signs are essential and are used as baseline information about one’s health status. Doctors will also assess your general appearance and mental alertness.

Heart Exam - with the use of stethoscope (Auscultation), doctor will listen to your heart beat, assess for irregular murmurs, fast beat, and other clues to heart ailment.

Lung Exam - doctors will listen for wheezes (asthma), crackles, murmurs, etc. Doctors may also perform percussion of the chest to assess presence of heart or lung disease.

Head to toe assessment by your doctor with the use of important skills such as inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation to determine if necessary intervention is further needed regarding your health.

Head/Neck (EENT) – doctors will inspect your mouth to check for any lesions. Doctors will also palpate your sinuses, ears, and lymph nodes for tenderness.

Abdomen – palpating the right quadrant of your abdomen to detect liver size, auscaltating the abdomen to hear normal bowel sounds (borborygmi).

Nuerological – Assessing reflexes, balance, mental alertness, and muscle strength.

Skin – Inspecting the nails and skin for lesions, lumps, and lacerations.

Annual Physical Exam for men includes:

Penile Exam – doctors may check for abnormal discharge, warts, ulcers (pus) that may suggest sexually transmitted disease.

Testicular Exam - check for size and shape of the testes. Palpating the testes for lumps, tenderness, and changes in size may suggest testicular cancer.

Prostate Exam – digital rectal exam is performed to detect abnormal enlargement of the prostate suggesting hyperplasia of the prostate gland or prostate cancer.

Annual Physical Exam for women includes:

Breast exam – inspecting the size and shape of the breast, abnormal discharge, tenderness, and lumps may detect breast cancer or other condition of the breast that are non malignant.

Pelvic exam – examining the vulva, labia, vagina, and cervix for abnormal discharge, lesions, warts that may suggest sexually transmitted disease. Pap smear can detect cervical cancer.

Certain Laboratory tests are also performed during annual exam: Simple Lifestyle change such us doing a 30 minute exercise every day, eating healthy food, and smoking cessation is the key to healthy living.

What to Know Before the Procedure

There is little preparation for the procedure, if patient will undergo several laboratory tests, patient will be asked to remove clothing and will be given hospital gown for ease and comfort. Patients may be asked to restrict their food and fluid intake if one will undergo FBS. For xray examination, patient will be asked to remove all metallic objects as it may interfere with the test.

What to Know After the Procedure

Patients can leave the facility as soon as they feel comfortable and may resume normal activities immediately. The technologist will send the result to the doctor and a follow-up conversation between patient and doctor will involve treatment plans, medication, and/or surgery, as necessary.