Physical Exam

There are many reasons to see your doctor, even for the healthiest of people. Regular checkups in men for prostate examinations may catch prostate cancer in its early stages when it is the most treatable. Women who have never had any symptoms should get yearly PAP exams. Cancer screening is performed often for many people, regardless of their ages. There are many things we can do in order to stay healthy and well. One of the simplest and best things you can do is to have a routine physical exam done at your physician.

Even if you seem healthy, regular physical exams from your will, if nothing else, allow you to get to know our doctors on a personal level. Crises occur, and if you experience a medical emergency, it is comforting to know that you will have a doctor that you know and trust helping you every step of the way.

Teaching healthy habits is one other reason for keeping regularly scheduled appointments for physical exams. Getting ideas for disease prevention, statistics, tips and education are the main reason that people should see their doctor, even if they are feeling great.

During the physical exam, the doctor listens to your body rather than your voice. The exam is generally performed in a set order. After or during the exam, physicians record the results, both normal and abnormal. The physical exam begins with checking the vital signs, which are pulse (heart rate), blood pressure, respiratory rate (breaths per minute), and temperature. Vital signs can often signal the presence of a problem, and they also establish a normal baseline to use as a reference point for future appointments. Our doctors approach the exam by system: cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, nervous, and musculoskeletal.

It is important that you relay any new information to your doctors about symptoms, maladies or questions you have about your body. Even if you think it may be nothing significant, you trust your doctors to recognize signs and symptoms of conditions, especially when you don't. We always encourage patients to contact our office in regards to any questions or concerns they may have, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

For more information about our physical exams and other medical services, to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians or to learn more about your AbsoluteCare, please call.