An annual physical exam, sometimes called a yearly wellness exam or annual check up, is a scheduled visit with your primary care physician focused on prevention rather than an existing illness. During the visit, your doctor reviews your health history, checks basic measurements like weight and blood pressure, and discusses any screenings or vaccines you may be due for.
Before your appointment, it can help to write down any symptoms or concerns you want to discuss, gather a list of current medications and supplements, and review your family health history if there have been any changes. Bringing this information with you helps your physician make the most of your visit.
Regular checkups, including your annual physical, can help find problems before they start or catch them early, when treatment tends to be more effective. An annual physical also gives you and your primary care physician a chance to update your personalized health plan based on any changes since your last visit.
Your annual physical typically includes a review of your medical history, a physical examination, basic measurements such as weight and blood pressure, and a conversation about any screenings, vaccines, or lifestyle questions you have. Depending on your age, sex, and health history, your physician may also recommend additional screening tests.
Because Medical Offices of Manhattan includes gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology, dermatology, and podiatry departments alongside primary care, your annual physical can serve as a starting point for internal referrals if your physician identifies a concern that a specialist should evaluate further.
In many cases, your provider will want to review your results with you in person and discuss a care plan going forward, though this is not always necessary. If you have been referred for any additional care, your doctor’s team can help you schedule those appointments before leaving the office.
A standard physical exam is a routine, low risk visit. Some screening tests included as part of a physical exam may carry their own specific considerations, which your physician can review with you before any testing is done.
