During your annual physical or annual health checkup, your doctor will perform a physical examination to assess your overall health. If needed, your Nashville Healthcare Provider may recommend additional screening tests to diagnose possible health risks and help you understand the risks of chronic diseases and how to avoid these problems as you age.
Annual checkups help diagnose health issues early, and improve your chances of complete recovery. Visit and setup an appointment with your family clinic in Nashville for your annual physical today.
What exams are included in annual physicals?
Initial assessment
Your doctor will review your family health history, vaccination history and ask about any specific concerns you have with your health. You should be candid with your doctor so he or she can recommend appropriate health and laboratory tests for screening and diagnosis of an ailments or problems.
Physical exams
During your annual physicals, your doctor will perform the following physical exams:
- Blood pressure—A standard blood pressure reading is 120/80 mm Hg and that is considered normal. If your blood pressure levels are persistently higher than these readings, you may have hypertension or high blood pressure which is bad for your health. Your doctor can diagnose and determine a treatment for high blood pressure or hypertension.
- Heart rate—Heart rates vary depending on your activity level and your overall health and fitness. On average, a resting heart rate of around 60 would be ideal. If your resting heart rate is drastically lower or higher, your doctor will want to do some further tests. Your doctor will also check for signs of irregular heartbeats, heart murmurs, or other signs of heart disease.
- Respiration rate—An average breathing rate is about 20 breaths per minute. If you are breathing a lot faster or slower with no cause then you could be having breathing or heart problems. Your doctor will listen to your breathing sounds through a stethoscope for possible lung-related and heart complications.
- Head and Neck – Your doctor will also examine your ears, nose, throat, eyes, thyroid, and carotid arteries.
- Abdomen—Your doctor may also physically examine your abdomen to detect liver size, and listen to bowel sounds.
- Neurological exam – Your doctor will also examine nerves, muscle strength, balance, and reflexes.
Screening and diagnosis
Depending on your age and health, your doctor may also perform the following health tests for proper screening and diagnosis:
- Colorectal/colon cancer test—Your doctor may suggest getting this test regularly after age 50. However, based on your personal medical history, you might need to begin this test early.
- Lung cancer screening – Men and women between 55 and 80 who have smoked for a significant period are recommended to get an annual low-dose CT scan of their lungs.
- Diabetes – If you have a family history or are at risk of developing diabetes, your doctor may recommend getting regular screening for diabetes. Ideally, they may recommend getting a fasting blood sugar or an HBA1C test.
- Cholesterol screening – Your doctor will also perform cholesterol screening to diagnose the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
- STI screening – Based on your sexual history, your doctor may recommend regular STI screenings during annual physicals, which could include HIV and syphilis tests.
- Bone density – Your doctor may also recommend a bone density test to determine the risk of Osteoporosis.
The above-mentioned physical exams, screening and diagnosis tests are common for men and women. However, certain issues are specific to one gender. Your Nashville medical clinic healthcare provider may perform the additional following physical exams:
Annual Physicals for Men
- Testicular exam – Your doctor will check each testicle for tenderness, lumps, or size changes.
- Hernia exam – Your doctor may ask you to turn your head and cough to check possible weakness in the abdominal wall between the intestines and scrotum.
- Penis exam – Your doctor might check your penis to diagnose signs of possible sexually transmitted infections, such as warts or ulcers.
- Prostrate exam – Your doctor will check your prostrate size to diagnose signs of abnormalities.
Annual Physicals for Women
- Breast exam – Your doctor will likely check for lumps in your breast. They may also check the lymph nodes in the underarm areas to check for visual abnormalities of the breast and nipples.
- Mammogram – Your Nashville Doctor may recommend a mammogram for women between 50 and 74 to help detect breast cancer. Depending on personal and family history, your doctor may recommend this test early and more frequently.
- Pelvic exam – Your doctor may check your vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries as a part of a pelvic exam. Further, they may also check for signs of sexually transmitted infections. A Pap smear and HPV test can help screen for cervical cancer.
- Pap smear—Doctors usually recommend beginning this screening at age 21. After that, they might recommend screening every three years. In women over 30, doctors recommend getting this test done once every five years until they turn 65. Usually, women don’t require this test after 65.
Cape Sierra Family Clinic provides annual physicals to assess your overall health conditions. These annual physicals help identify possible health risks, which allows your doctor to provide appropriate healthcare and early detection. Visit Cape Sierra Family Clinic, your family medical clinic in Nashville for your annual physical today.
