1) You'll get your blood pressure checked.
So simple, yet one of the most important parts of a yearly physical.
High blood pressure is most often asymptomatic, meaning you don't feel badly if it's high. Some people do get headaches, dizziness, and chest pain if it's very high.
High blood pressure for a long period can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
2) Get screened for cancer.
Depending on your age, medical history, and family history, there are screenings available for 8 types of cancer. Many can be done at your physical!
3) Find out if you're at a healthy weight, or develop a plan to get there.
It's more complex than weight, height, and BMI. It's not as simple as calories in and calories out. Your doctor can help you craft a plan with evidence-based recommendations that fits your lifestyle.
4) Get screening labs.
Did you know a simple blood draw can screen for anemia, high cholesterol, diabetes, electrolyte imbalance, as well as kidney, liver, and thyroid disease?
If you don't check, you'll never know! (Or worse, you'll find out later when you have a major health complication!)
5) Make sure those nagging symptoms you've been wondering about aren't anything to worry about.
We all have them. "What's that weird pain?" "Am I short of breath or just out of shape?" "Does that freckle look different than it used to?" "Are my headaches normal?"
Instead of googling it, just ask your doctor! We did years of training to be a helpful (and more accurate) resource!
6) Check in on your mental health.
Feeling off? Talk with your doctor is a great first step! We can help you with a plan to get you feeling like yourself again.
Checking in with your doctor on a regular basis is always a good idea to review your health and make sure you're doing everything you can to stay healthy. A yearly physical is just a structured way to do that annually. We'll spend time talking about the foods you eat, your exercise habits, your sleep, and discuss your physical and mental health. I can't emphasize how much being proactive about your health NOW can help you stay healthy and improve your health in the future! (Ask all the healthy 70+ year olds you know if they regret taking care of themselves when they were younger!)
