How Often Should You Get a Physical Exam?

Getting a physical exam when you are a generally healthy adult can sometimes feel unnecessary. After all, if you are not experiencing any issues with your health, do you need to go see your doctor for a checkup? How often do you really need to get a physical exam? 

The truth is that a critical part of these routine checkups is to help prevent illnesses and other health issues before they even appear, which is why scheduling regular physicals is an important step for every adult. Learn more about how often you should get a physical exam and what to expect during your appointment.

What Happens During a Physical Exam?

Before going into the specifics of how often you should schedule a physical, it helps to think about all of the healthcare services that go into this routine appointment.

When you meet with your doctor for a checkup, you can expect to go over your medical history, including family medical history and any current or past conditions you’ve personally experienced. Your doctor will also ask some general lifestyle questions about your diet, exercise, stress levels, and other day-to-day matters to get a better picture of your overall health.

In addition to discussing these issues, the doctor will perform a physical exam of your body that may include some or all of the following:

• Taking your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and height
• Listening with a stethoscope to check the heart and lungs
• Testing for reflexes, muscle strength, and balance
• Manually examining the neck, throat, and abdomen
• Collecting blood or urine samples to check for cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.

At Bella Terra Primary Care, we make physical exams as comfortable and convenient as possible. We allot plenty of time for these appointments in order to be as thorough as possible and provide ample time for patients to discuss any health concerns they may have. Patients should take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about their health and discuss options with their doctor during each checkup. 

Dr. Karki at Bella Terra will use the information collected during a physical exam to provide personalized recommendations for each patient. This may include follow-up treatments, preventative care, or referrals to specialists. Select healthcare services, such as vaccinations or EKGs, are conveniently offered on site at Bella Terra Primary Care.

What About Well-Woman Exams?

For women, a physical exam can also include an examination of the reproductive organs. This is offered at Bella Terra Primary Care as a well-woman exam. When you schedule this appointment, you’ll get a complete physical as well as a pelvic exam and, if necessary, a Pap smear.

This type of appointment also offers women the chance to ask about gynecological medical issues, such as menstrual cycle irregularities, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and pelvic pain. Dr. Karki can also advise patients on contraception options and offer prescriptions for birth control or referrals for specialists as needed.

Physical Exam Recommendations

Physical exams are often referred to as “annual exams” because it is recommended that you have a physical exam every year. Depending on your age and your personal health, your doctor may recommend scheduling physicals more frequently if you are high risk for health concerns. 

Generally, people who are in their 20s or 30s and in good health will only need a routine physical every other year. However, if you have any ongoing health problems, your doctor will likely recommend more frequent visits.

Once you hit age 40, it’s a good idea to start scheduling a complete physical every year. This is around the time when certain health risks begin to increase according to age, so it’s smart to stay on top of your health with annual checkups.

And don’t forget to schedule a visit if any particular health concern pops up—regardless of your age. It’s better to get it checked out as soon as possible rather than wait until your next routine physical, which could be months away.

Why Physical Exams Are So Important

Physical exams aren’t just about dealing with current health issues. That’s why doctors encourage you to schedule these checkups regularly even when you are feeling good. 

Besides addressing current health concerns, routine physicals give your doctor a chance to detect problems early on. They can also advise you on preventative care that can benefit your health immensely in the long run and help you to avoid certain conditions and ailments in the future.

If possible, try to visit the same doctor for your physicals. This makes it easier to track your health over time and helps doctors to notice when something is different during future visits.

Are you ready to schedule your next physical exam? Call 714-248-9068 to get in touch with us at Bella Terra Primary Care. Our team of friendly and knowledgeable healthcare professionals are here to help you live a longer, happier, healthier life.

If you are not sure whether you need a physical exam, consider scheduling a telehealth visit first. Dr. Karki will be happy to go over your basic health concerns and advise you on when you should schedule your next in-person visit.