Why do I need a physical exam?
When it comes to your health, knowledge is power, allowing you to take action to ward off more serious problems down the road. And the first step to gaining this knowledge is through your physical exam at Integrative Primary Care.
Preventive health care is a practice that pays off in spades, especially when you consider that many medical issues could have been avoided in the first place if you had heeded the early warning signs. Your body is adept at letting you know when something isn’t right — you just have to know where to look. And the team at Integrative Primary Care is up to the task, looking out for potential problems where early intervention can make all the difference.
What’s included in a physical exam?
When you come in for a physical exam, the first order of business is to record your vital statistics, such as your heart rate, your blood pressure, your body temperature, and your weight, which provide your doctor with valuable year-over-year information.
Then your doctor performs a physical examination, checking your general appearance, as well as your:
- Cardiovascular health
- Lung function
- Cognitive function
- Motor skills, including reflexes
During your exam, your doctor asks you about any concerns you might have so he knows where to concentrate his efforts.
The doctors at Integrative Primary Care also turn to an autonomic nervous system scan to get a picture of your overall health. Your autonomic nervous system includes all of the systems that operate autonomously, meaning without your guidance. This includes your:
- Heart rate and blood pressure
- Body temperature
- Metabolism
- Digestive system
- Fluid and electrolyte balance
- Sweating
- Urination and defecation
By studying the function of your autonomous systems, your doctor can spot problems like neuropathy and heart failure.
How often do I need a physical exam?
If you don’t have any chronic issues, the doctors at Integrative Primary Care recommend an annual physical exam. If, however, you’re dealing with an ongoing medical issue, such as diabetes or heart disease, your doctor may want to see you more frequently to closely monitor your health.
To set up your physical exam, call Integrative Primary Care or use the online scheduling tool.
