If you are visiting your primary care practitioner at least once a year for a physical exam, give yourself a pat on the back. Annual physical exams – even if you are feeling perfectly healthy – are vital to maintaining your health, because they screen for potential medical issues and detect health conditions early.
Whether you are scheduling a physical exam for the first time with a new healthcare provider or revisiting the same clinician, you should be prepared ahead of time. Here is a checklist of items you should bring along to your annual physical exam to get the most out of your appointment:
- Your photo identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or government ID
- Your medical insurance card
- Any completed forms that were provided prior to your appointment
- A list of all your current medications. This should include the name of the medication, the prescribed dosage, and how often you take it. Include any vitamins, supplements, or herbal remedies you take regularly.
- Your up-to-date medical records if you are visiting a new provider
- A list of your family’s health history would also be helpful. This includes information about your immediate family, your children, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
- A list of any questions you may have for your health care provider.
What to Expect at Your Annual Physical Exam?
A typical physical or wellness exam starts with your healthcare provider or nurse measuring your height and weight. They will also listen to your heart and check your blood pressure. The provider will go over your current health history and may ask personal yet relevant questions about your daily habits to get a better understanding of the whole scope of your health and lifestyle.
Since some vaccines wear off as you age, you may need booster vaccines. As such, your provider may suggest recommended vaccines based on your age and lifestyle. For example, you may be able to get an annual flu shot, tetanus and diphtheria booster (which is recommended every 10 years), or other immunizations if you are planning to travel outside of the country.
Your age, gender, medical history, family history, and lifestyle may also prompt your provider to order important preventive screenings, such as a Pap smear and HPV test, a breast exam or mammogram, a colon or prostate cancer screening, or a bone density test. Such screenings can detect serious illnesses at an early stage, so they can be dealt with effectively.
Key Questions to Ask Your Provider
An annual physical exam is a perfect opportunity to discuss any healthcare concerns you may have with your provider. Let your provider know about any symptoms you have been experiencing, however trivial they may seem, so your physician can provide you with solutions to any ongoing problems.
Some of the questions you may want to ask include:
- Will I need to have any further testing?
- Is the nutrition and exercise plan I’m following right for me?
- What is my risk of developing a certain disease or condition?
- Does my family history necessarily affect my health? If so, how?
- Is it normal to experience this particular symptom?
Annual Physical Exam Near You in Kent, Washington
At FamilyCare of Kent, our board-certified family nurse practitioners have several decades of combined experience and have served the needs of thousands of patients over the years. Our practitioners include nationally recognized clinicians, teachers, and speakers who also serve as members of the clinical faculty at the University of Washington and Pacific Lutheran University. They are committed to providing the highest quality of professional health care.
FamilyCare of Kent is here to provide appropriate medical care for you and your loved ones, including comprehensive annual physical exams. To schedule an appointment, call FamilyCare of Kent today at (253) 859-CARE (2273) or use our convenient and secure online appointment request form.