What does a full physical include?

An annual physical or annual physical exam is basically a yearly visit to your doctor to make sure that your overall health is okay and you don’t have any medical problems that you are unaware of. While most healthy adults are not necessarily required to have an annual physical, those who have a complex medical history or even those who just want to feel assured of their health can benefit from this type of exam and prevent future health problems.

Below are some of the main purpose of an annual physical:

  • As primary prevention
  • To identify risk factors for common chronic diseases
  • To detect a disease that has no apparent symptom
  • As a mean for the doctor to counsel patients to promote healthy habits
  • To update clinical data
  • To update vaccinations
  • To enhance relationship between you and your doctor

Your annual physical is also a good opportunity for you to discuss with your doctor about any problems or symptoms you are experiencing. This is also a good chance to bring up your questions or concerns regarding some of your medications including birth control, vitamins, and more.

Highlights of an Annual Physical

During you annual physical, your doctor will ask you several questions and provide counsel regarding your medical history and lifestyle choices such as smoking habits, alcohol intake, sexual health, diet, and exercise. Depending on how thorough your doctor is, you will also undergo a series of routine medical procedures.

These medical procedures are done to check the following:

  • Vital signs- Including your blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature
  • General appearance- This includes the way your skin looks, your posture, as well as memory and other mental acuity
  • Heart and lung exam- your doctor uses a stethoscope to listen if your heartbeat is regular and if your lungs are clear
  • Head and neck exam- The doctor checks your ears, nose, sinuses, lymph nodes, thyroid, as well as your throat and tonsils
  • Abdominal exam- This is done to detect liver size, tenderness, and presence of abdominal fluid

Some doctors may also include some laboratory tests including a complete blood count, chemistry panel, and urinalysis. If you are a male patient, you may also undergo a testicular exam, hernia exam, penis exam, and even a prostate exam, especially for men who are over 40 years old. For women patients, your annual physical may include a breast exam as well as a pelvic exam that requires you to get a Pap test and HPV test.

If you consider yourself healthy and do not have any pressing medical condition, getting an annual physical exam is a personal choice. Just make sure that you not only see your doctor when you are experiencing a problem or some kind of symptom. As they say, prevention is always better than cure.

This article contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis of a physician. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.

Skip to content

  • About Us
    • Insurance
    • Hospital Affiliations
    • Referrals
    • Job Opportunities
    • Nuestros Servicios
  • Our Providers
    • Cruz Faña-Souchet, M.D.
    • Martin Dones, M.D.
    • Jelexza J. Vélez Gaetán, M.D.
    • Nina E. Millet, M.D.
    • Phuong Bui, PA-C
    • Benjamin Love, MCMSc, PA-C
  • Services
    • Comprehensive Physical Exams
    • Coumadin Therapy
    • EKG
    • Health Screenings
    • Hospital and Nursing Home Visits
    • Joint Injections
    • Laboratory Services
    • Pharmacist Counseling Services
    • Well Woman Exams
  • Conditions
    • Alzheimer’s and Dementia
    • Arthritis
    • Asthma
    • Cardiac Conditions
    • COPD
    • Coronary Artery Disease
    • Heart Failure
    • Strokes
  • For Patients
    • New Patients
    • Existing Patients
    • Patient Feedback
    • News
    • Tour Our Facility
  • Request an Appointment

Comprehensive Physical ExamsInsightmg2021-03-15T13:57:23+00:00

Comprehensive Physical Exams

Services

A comprehensive physical exam is sometimes referred to as an executive physical. This exam include laboratory tests, pulmonary function testing, chest x-rays, audiograms, EKGs, full-body CAT scans, heart stress tests, mammograms or prostate exams, and a urinalysis.

This process is used by a medical professional to thoroughly check the body of a patient for signs of disease.These examinations also take the patient’s medical and family history into account prior to determining a correct diagnosis and devising a treatment plan.

This data becomes a part of the patient’s medical record. General health examinations are often administered even if the patient reports no health concerns.

What does a full physical include?

Why Does the AMA Medical Group Promote Comprehensive Physical Exams?

Physical exams play a major part in identifying early signs of illness. These exams also promote the building of the doctor-patient relationship, which can be beneficial in medical care. A physical examination also helps you and your doctor establish a baseline and general status of your health. They are recommended at least once a year, especially in people over the age of 50.

These exams are used to:

  • Check for possible disease
  • Identify issues that could be concerning in the future
  • Update necessary immunizations
  • Discuss dietary and exercise routines

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Comprehensive Physical Exam?

Everyone should receive regular health screenings and physical examinations. During these examinations, your doctor may wish to examine a specific part of your body, called a focused physical exam. This is done if your doctor has reason to believe something about it is abnormal and requires further testing to rule anything out.

Patients with a family or personal history of certain diseases, such as cancer, high blood pressure, or diabetes should receive regular health screenings and physical examinations to monitor their health and the progression of any degenerative health conditions.

What to Expect from Your Comprehensive Physical Exam

Physical exams are typically performed during a routine office visit. If you require additional screenings or imaging tests, they may be completed at an imaging center or at a hospital. Blood draws can be completed at the doctor’s office before any samples are sent to a lab for further analysis. Men and women will have different kinds of physical health examinations.

Women typically require a mammogram, a pap smear, a pelvic exam, a cholesterol test, and an osteoporosis screening.

Men typically receive a cholesterol test, a prostate cancer screening, a testicular exam, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.

If you have any concerns during this process, be sure to discuss them with your doctor. Additionally, if you have been experiencing any unpleasant symptoms, it is important to share them with your healthcare team so that any additional diagnostics can be run.

Lastly, it is critical to share any vitamin or holistic regimen you are taking, as these can interfere with certain medications or tests. If your doctor is unaware of what you are taking, it could lead to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.

What People Are Saying

5 star so far! Had my second appointment today after labs..Very thorough from start to finish. A very busy place, I have worked in many medical offices, so I had to mention how organized and caring the staff has been to me. PA took all the time I needed and I am sure her schedule was booked! I felt so much better as I left , as all my concerns were addressed in a caring, calming way. Thank you everso, I had not experienced this yet, in my med advantage insurance physician visits

Very clean, organized and friendly staff

I actually moved further away, but kept Dr. Fana because the entire staff and especially Dr. Fana gives you the feeling of “”you are the only patient”. Takes time to thoroughly explain issues and concerns.

One of my reasons for moving back to Florida was to find a medical group that I could communicate with and who could take care of my medical needs for the rest of my life. I am so happy and more satisfied than I could have imagined with Dr. Dones and PA, Benjamin Love. Both take the time to listen to my questions and concerns. They clearly explain options and recommendations very thoroughly in terms that I understand and trust. I am relieved that they know the hospitals, should I ever be hospitalized. I recently sprained my foot on a Sunday night and left a message with the answering service. An x-ray was set up for the next morning as well as an appointment at AMA with Dr. Dones, first thing in the morning. The whole staff is really great and very easy to talk with. It's nice that they have their own lab in the building too. It is a gentle place.

Wonderful caring staff & Doctors! The best care you will ever receive in Central Florida! Attention to your condition & caring follow up! Love Dr Fana-Souchet

Thank you so much for taking care of my mom. I am forever grateful to AMA!

Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 57 reviews.

A Lifetime of Care

AMA Medical Group is a physician-owned medical practice dedicated to patients and their loved ones. As an advocate for a lifetime of good health, our practice treats each patient as an individual.

Quality Care for Every Patient

Quality Care for Every Patient

As a world-leading innovator in comprehensive primary care and preventative medicine, we dedicate ourselves to personalized and compassionate service for every patient.

What tests are included in a complete physical?

A comprehensive physical exam is sometimes referred to as an executive physical. This exam include laboratory tests, pulmonary function testing, chest x-rays, audiograms, EKGs, full-body CAT scans, heart stress tests, mammograms or prostate exams, and a urinalysis.

What does a full physical consist of for a woman?

It includes a routine check of vitals like blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and temperature. Your doctor may also examine your abdomen, extremities, and skin for any signs of health changes.

What should be done at a complete physical?

During your general exam, your doctor will likely:.
Take your pulse..
Listen to your heart and lungs..
Check your mouth and ears..
Feel your lymph nodes..
Examine your skin..
Look for swelling in your extremities..
Conduct a breast exam..