Did you know that, in addition to urgent care services, we also offer physicals at Physicians Medical Urgent Care? Dr. Ines Munoz De Laborde and Dr. Sveltlana Burkhead offer a variety of physicals at our San Jose, California office, including school, camp, sports, immigration, and pre-employment physicals.
In this article, we take a deeper look at another type of physical: your annual physical.
Annual physicals are an important part of your healthcare because they allow you to receive preventive health screenings, manage chronic health conditions, and catch potential issues. But what exactly happens at an annual physical? The following components are included in your annual physical:
During your physical, Dr. Ines Munoz De Laborde or Dr. Sveltlana Burkhead review your personal health history as well as your family health history. Your personal health history includes any diseases, injuries, or past surgeries you have had, while your family health history focuses on diseases or illnesses that your family members have had.
Your personal and health history can provide valuable information, including your risk factors for diseases that tend to run in families.
Your vital signs provide insights into your overall health. Vital signs include your body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. These readings can hint at any problems, such as hypertension, that require treatment.
Your vital signs, along with your height and weight, can shed light on your overall health and pinpoint trends as they start to occur. For example, if your blood pressure readings continue to trend upwards each year, we can discuss relevant lifestyle modifications that help lower blood pressure.
Your annual physical includes a thorough physical exam, which entails:
During your exam, don’t hesitate to bring up any questions or concerns you have. Mention any sudden changes or concerning symptoms you’ve noticed since your last physical. This includes any aches, pains, lumps, or concerning symptoms, such as sudden weight gain or chronic headaches.
If you’re due for a vaccine or a booster, our team can make sure you’re up-to-date with your immunizations. This includes your yearly flu shot, tetanus, and pneumococcal pneumonia -- just to name a few. We follow the immunization schedule provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Annual physicals allow us to spot the earliest signs of diseases or conditions, but these physicals also enable you to receive preventive care to keep those conditions from occurring. Depending on your exam, age, overall health, and risk factors, we may suggest the applicable screenings that may benefit you.
In addition to preventive screenings, we can also guide you with lifestyle modifications that can better support your health and wellness goals. Examples of lifestyle modifications that support your wellness include smoking cessation, regular exercise, following a balanced diet, and practicing good sleep hygiene.
If you’re overdue for a physical, we can help you get back on track. We make it easy to schedule your annual physical. You can call our office at 408-207-4637, or you can book online 24/7.
