A physical exam is used to check your overall health and make sure you don’t have any medical problems that you are unaware of. Some of the important check-ups include Heart and Lung Exam , Eye exam , Periodontal exam , Laboratory Tests ( Blood test and Urine test ) , Mammogram , Pelvic exam and Pap smear , Prostate cancer screening , Colorectal cancer exam , etc.
Heart and Lung Exam
A doctor might detect an irregular heartbeat, a heart murmur, or other clues to heart disease, also crackles, wheezes, or decreased breath sounds by Listening to your heart and breathing with a stethoscope. Annual exam is needed in older people.
Vision-robbing diseases become more common as you age. Be sure to get your eyes examined regularly — every 2 to 4 years until age 54 and then every 1 to 3 years after that. Go more often if you have vision problems or risk factors for eye problems.
Dental issues may lead to loss of natural teeth. Your dentist should perform a periodontal exam during one of your twice-yearly cleanings. Your dentist will X-ray your jaw and inspect your mouth, teeth, gums, and throat for signs of problems.
There are no standard laboratory tests during an annual physical but generally it includes:
A blood test eliminates the threat of many blood-related diseases and conditions that are manifested in the bloodstream like Diabetes, Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, cancer, HIV/AIDS, anemia, coronary heart disease, and many more. A blood test can also help a doctor to evaluate how well organs—such as the kidneys, liver, thyroid, and heart—are working.
A urine test checks different components of urine, a waste product made by the kidneys. A regular urine test may be done to help find the cause of symptoms. The test can give information about your health and problems you may have.
Women between the ages of 45 to 54 should have a clinical breast exam and an annual screening mammogram. Women over 55 should have an exam every 2 years or every year if they choose.
If your risk for breast cancer is high because of family history, your doctor may suggest an annual screening.
Pelvic exam and Pap smear
Combining a Pap test with a human papillomavirus (HPV) test can safely extend the interval between cervical cancer screenings from three years to five years in many women between the ages of 30-65. Women over age 65 can stop getting screened if they’ve had at least three consecutive negative Pap tests or at least two negative HPV tests with in the previous 10 years, according to the guidelines.
Prostate cancer screening
Men at the age of 50 who are at average risk for prostate cancer should be screened. People between 40 and 45 who are at high risk, have a family history of prostate cancer, or have an immediate relative that has died from the disease should also be screened regularly.
Colorectal cancer exam
A colonoscopy is a test where a doctor uses a camera to scan your colon for cancerous polyps. After the age of 50, you should get a colonoscopy every 10 years, and you should get them more frequently if polyps are found, or if you have a family history of colorectal cancer.