What are annual physical exams and how do you prepare for it?

Did you know that even if you have no present symptoms of health issues, you might still have some underlying medical conditions? Yes, it could be something serious like high blood pressure or something minor that could lead to serious medical condition. Therefore, it becomes vital to understand the importance of annual physical exams. Yes, it is one of the finest ways to prevent many health issues and promote good overall health.

What are annual physicals?

Annual physicals are the exams that are performed once every year to ensure good overall health of the patient. These exams include thorough checkups of an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Health experts recommend these tests to promote healthy living by identify underlying diseases and prevent further loss. Therefore, to undergo these tests, you do not necessarily need to feel sick.

How to prepare?

Firstly, you need to speak with your family to gather information about their health history. Yes, your physician may ask you numerous questions associated with you and your family’s medical history. You also need to provide information about any over-the-counter or prescribed medications that you might be taking. You can consult your doctor whether you need to fast for few hours for any of your annual physical blood test. You need to be honest with your doctor in answering questions whether it is about your mental health, sexual activity, smoking, or drinking habits of yours.

What will be checked?

Even though annual physicals may vary from doctor to doctor, but it can include the following-

• Checkup of vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, etc
• Checkup of the cardiovascular system
• Full checkup of major organs
• Diet and lifestyle habits
• Blood tests to check cholesterol, glucose levels, etc
• Tests of vision
• Checkup for HIV
• Vaccination status for certain diseases

At the end, we can say that you should schedule your annual physical without any delays, as it is all about your health and wellbeing. Remember, your ultimate goal behind undergoing these tests is to ensure that there are no existing diseases and if there are any, they should be treated immediately.