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Annual Exams services offered in Clifton and Maywood, NJ
Annual exams are a great way to keep on top of your health and make sure you’re in tip-top shape, but you may need a physical exam at other times, too. Maged Boutros, MD, Ana Urriola, PA-C, and the team at Prevention Clinics in Clifton and Maywood, New Jersey, have considerable experience with carrying out physicals for all purposes. If you need to schedule an annual exam for you or a loved one, call the nearest office or book one online today.
Annual Exams Q & A
What are annual exams?
Physical exams, or annual exams, are routine checkups where your medical provider reviews every part of your body to look for any signs of disease or poor health. Many people have an annual physical exam to reassure themselves that everything looks healthy or as part of an ongoing care program for chronic health conditions.
You may also need an annual exam if you’re on a sports team or wish to take up a new sporting activity or you’re starting a new job. Your children may also need a physical if they’re going to camp.
What does an annual exam include?
There’s no definitive checklist for a physical exam, but your Prevention Clinics provider takes a thorough approach to assessing your health and well-being when they carry out your physical. A typical exam will start with checking routine vital signs, such as:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Respiration rate
- Temperature
- Reflexes
Your provider can also tell a great deal about your health by your appearance, alertness, how well you move, and your reactions.
After checking your vital signs, your Prevention Clinics provider moves on to examine different areas of your body in greater detail. They start by listening to your heart to make sure there’s no sign of any irregularities or heart disease, then listen to your lungs for sounds that could indicate a problem.
Your provider then checks your head and neck, looking at the health of your:
- Throat and tonsils
- Ears
- Nose
- Sinuses
- Eyes
- Lymph nodes
- Thyroid
- Carotid arteries
The health of your teeth and gums can give your practitioner valuable insight into your general state of health as well.
Your Prevention Clinics provider then tests your liver by tapping your abdomen, listening to your bowels using a stethoscope, and checking for any tenderness. They may also check for neurological problems by testing your muscle strength, nerve responses, and balance.
The appearance of your skin and nails is another good indication of your overall health, and while checking your skin, your provider can look for abnormal lesions and check your joints. They may also order blood or urine tests, a blood sugar analysis, and a cholesterol test.
Do men and women undergo the same annual exams?
In addition to the standard tests, men undergo an examination of the testicles, penis, and prostate, and a hernia exam. Women have breast and pelvic exams, a Pap smear, and an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer.
Talking to you about your concerns and worries and offering advice and support are also essential parts of your annual exam.
When you need a thorough annual exam, call Prevention Clinics, or book an appointment online today.