The Importance of Annual Physicals

You feel fine, so why do you need to go to the doctor for a physical? Just like you would take your car into the garage for a routine check to make sure all systems are working properly, you need to get your body checked out periodically to ensure you remain in the best of health.

Dr. Arbi Ayvazian and our team at Rapid Response Urgent Care in Granada Hills, California, offer routine physical exams for our patients, as well as required physicals for work, school, or sports participation. If it’s been a year or more since you’ve stepped in a doctor’s office, here’s why you shouldn’t blow off your yearly physical just because you don’t feel like you need one.

But I feel fine

If you’re feeling great, that’s wonderful. The problem is, some diseases, especially in their early stages when they’re easier to successfully treat, don’t produce any symptoms, so you may not know there’s a problem unless you come in for an exam.

Some common concerns include hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries and veins, commonly called “hardening of the arteries”), high cholesterol, and hearing loss. The first three can lead to a life-threatening heart attack or stroke if not treated, and the fourth can impact every aspect of your daily life.

There’s also the question of vaccinations. Do you know the vaccine schedule? Are you up-to-date on all your shots? Chances are, you probably don’t know – but our providers will. We can provide you with any essential or recommended vaccinations while you’re in the office.

In addition, if you get sick, your provider will need baseline results to measure the extent of the illness as it relates to your normal health, and you’re not going to have those results unless you come in for regular exams.

What is involved in an annual physical?

At your annual physical you can expect your provider to:

Take blood

We screen for common problems like anemia (iron deficiency), electrolyte imbalances, high cholesterol levels, and immune system problems.

Check your vital signs

We record your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate to establish a baseline for your overall health.

Perform a physical exam

We perform a visual inspection of your eyes, ears, and throat, looking for common issues like vision or hearing loss, allergies, or infection. We also lightly touch your abdomen and back and listen with a stethoscope to ensure your heart and your gut are functioning normally.

Update your vaccines

Vaccines and boosters are given on a schedule that depends on age, so you might need an update while you’re here, even if you didn’t need one last time.

Ensure you get screenings you need

Mammograms, colonoscopies, and bone density screenings are some of the routine tests you should have. If you haven’t had one in a while, we can give you a referral to get one.

Discuss new prevention and treatment recommendations

Your lifestyle and health maintenance changes over time. A yearly physical allows us to bring your care up-to-date. We can talk about the best way to prevent common diseases like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes by adjusting your lifestyle factors.

Recommendations may include things like quitting smoking, eating a more balanced diet, and exercising regularly.

Manage your medications

At your physical, we detail all the medications you’re taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and supplements, and we make sure they don’t interact with each other. We can also help you manage any potential side effects.

Annual physical exams allow us to update your electronic medical record, so no matter which doctor you need to see, they’ll have as up-to-date information about you as possible.

If it’s been a while since your last physical, or if you need a physical for work, school, or sports, Rapid Response Urgent Care can help. Walk in, call us at 818-923-5216, or book an appointment online today.