Wellness Checks

Routine Physical Exam in New Jersey

Routine Physicals in NJ offers you a chance to feel reassured about your health. You may be completely asymptomatic, feel healthy and apparently be competent at the office, and still have problems that could be future concerns.

NJ Annual Physical Health Examinations

A routine physical exam is carried out by your PCP - who could be your primary care physician, nurse practitioner or family physician. Though many people and some doctors feel that healthy people do not need an annual physical exam, a routine physical exam in NJ is your sole opportunity:

To discuss your health concerns with your PCP.
To make sure you are as healthy as you think.
To know the latest science regarding prevention of diseases.
To change your diet and lifestyle for a long, healthy life.
To diagnose diseases early, before they take a toll on your health.
To develop a relationship with your PCP.

Though a topic of debate, more doctors than not suggest that an annual physical examination is the best bet for prevention of long-term health problems. This is simply more of a rule in women over forty and men over fifty.

A physical examination in New Jersey would concentrate on your diet, exercise, personal habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and medication history. Also, a detailed checkup using palpation, percussion, and stethoscope. Your examination may include:

Stats
Blood tests, if required.
Pap smear in women.
Immunization update.
Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors.
Evaluation of cancer risk factors.
Referral to specialists, when required.
Education

What is a Routine Physical Examination?

Prerequisites for a routine physical exam in NJ - Wear comfortable clothing. Avoid jewelry. You will need to make an appointment and carry with you all of the details regarding your health - your immunization record, current prescriptions, your records about any past surgeries, results of any tests conducted and details of any devices such as a pacemaker. You need not stop any medication you are currently on.

What is Done During a Routine Physical Exam?

After a detailed history, your old medical records, prescriptions, and your immunization status are checked. If you happen to have missed some vaccines or require extra vaccines with regards to your place of work, travel, and occupation, immunizations need to be planned over a few future visits.

Next, your general appearance is noted. Whether you look pale, jaundiced, weak, or over/undernourished will be noted. Similarly, your present mental status - whether you look depressed, anxious or evasive - will also be noted.

A stethoscope will be used:

To check the air entry into your lungs.
To hear heart sounds, any additional sounds or murmurs.
To hear your abdomen for intestinal gurgles.
To hear sounds over the carotid artery.

This is an important part that assures that your heart, lungs, and intestine are functioning properly. Changes in these sounds demand further tests.

Following this is palpation. You may also undergo:

Examination of the head - for any abnormal shape and scalp health. Hair is also examined.
Oral health - you may be asked to open your mouth to check for dental hygiene and caries. You may have to make a sound - aah - to enable your PCP to have a look at your throat and tonsils. Your eyes, ears, and sinuses will also be checked.
Examination of lymph nodes - your neck, armpits and groin will be checked.
Examination of the neck - for thyroid enlargement.
Examination of the abdomen - looking for enlarged organs or lumps in your abdomen.
Examination of bones and muscles - looking for any areas of growth or tenderness over skin and bones, movement of joints and any swellings around the joints. Assessment of the strength of muscles and ease of movement is done.
Neurological examination - muscle strength, reflexes, gait, balancing, speech and mental status will be evaluated.
Skin - will be examined for rashes and telltale signs of internal disease.
Examination of extremities - Pulses of hands and legs are examined. Any sensory changes are noted.
Enlarged organs and growths detected during a routine physical exam in NJ will need further tests, such as ultrasonogram, x-ray, and CT Scan. You may also need to see specialists.

Percussion is done:

Over the chest to find any extra fluid around lungs or heart.
Over abdomen to find fluid or enlarged organs.

This is one test that finds extra fluid. And is important because fluid is not made out easily by either palpation or using a stethoscope.

Women Additionally Will Go Through:

Examination of the breast for lumps or skin conditions.

A pelvic examination – examination of the vulva, vagina and the cervix for infections and growths.

A routine pap smear to enable early detection of the top two killer diseases – breast cancer and cervical cancer.

Men Would Require:

Examination of the testes to look for any fluid or lumps.
Examination of the penis for any sexually transmitted diseases, warts, and extra growths.
Examination of the prostate gland through the rectum for prostate gland enlargement.
Examination for hernias - You may be asked to cough to look for hernias.
Your stats - Weight, Height, Pulse, and Blood pressure are measured.

This detects the risk factors that contribute to the top killer disease in the United States - namely Heart attack. Obesity and untreated, uncontrolled high blood pressure will place you at a very high risk for a cardiovascular disorder, including heart attack and brain stroke.

Health Exam Education

Your PCP may use this opportunity to educate you regarding healthy practices about diet, exercise, lifestyle, stress management, and sexual behavior. Blood tests are not routine in the Routine physical exam in NJ. However, based on the discretion of the PCP, simple tests may be advised. CBC, Urine analysis, and Lipid profile may be done.

Get Your Routine Annual Physical Exam in New Jersey

A routine, annual physical exam in NJ is the best way to reassure yourself and to prevent top killers in our society today. Not to be neglected by women above forty and men over fifty, it has its relevance in all age groups.