When to have Physicals

When did you last have a physical health screening done? Depending on how old you are and what physical problems you have, the answer should be within one to five years. The older you are the more screening tests you need and the more often you should see the doctor. Unfortunately, not everyone is getting physical health screening done regularly.

Some specialists feel that annual physicals are not necessary for the healthy individual while others feel that the more opportunity there is to screen for disease, the better. Some doctors advised against getting screening physicals for those who have no symptoms because such testing can be overly expensive and, in men, only blood pressure and weight are considered good screening tests.

Proponents of annual physicals say that doctors get a good chance to review your medical history, address risk factors like lack of exercise, risky behavior, and smoking history. Education can then be given to reduce risk factors. Having an annual physical also establishes a relationship with your doctor who can treat you early. Screening tests for things like diabetes helps the doctor determine when diabetes is approaching or has arrived. Treating these diseases early helps you avoid complications of late stage disease.

You should check with your doctor when starting a new fitness routine to make sure things aren’t wrong that would prohibit you from exercising. Your blood pressure and stress ECG can be done to make sure your heart can tolerate the strenuous form of exercise. Your doctor can give you a clean bill of health for whatever exercise you are proposing.

You should also have a weight check each year and a blood pressure reading to make sure they are within normal limits. Your doctor can calculate your BMI to see if you are overweight or obese. If you have a family member who suffers from say, colon cancer, you can get a colonoscopy done earlier. Otherwise, you should go for colonoscopy at the age of 50 years. HIV and STDs can be checked for if you have a high risk due to sexual activities.

You should never wait to see the doctor only when you have symptoms of a condition. The earlier a disease is detected, the fewer complications and the cheaper it is to treat.