A patient's medical history is used to determine the screenings performed at an annual examination.
Annual physical examinations once checked all patients in the same way, however today the exams have been tailored to each individual patient. Medical science has determined that it is better to examine patients for illnesses where there is a high risk factor for developing the condition. For instance, younger patients are not screened for conditions such as cancer, which are a regular part of an older person's annual health examination.
Early Cancer Detection
Cancer is one of the diseases that doctor's can test for in an annual physical depending on your risk factors. Doctors recommend that patients begin screening for colon cancer at age 50. Some patients with risk factors, such as a family history, may begin screening for this cancer earlier. Doctors have a better chance of stopping the disease when it is caught in the early stages. Women age 40 and above should have a breast cancer screening annually to detect the disease in its early stages. The doctor may recommend screenings for younger women with a family history of the condition.
Health Maintenance
An annual physical also provides an opportunity for doctors to make recommendations to patients regarding lifestyle habits such as diet and smoking. Your physician can counsel you on the benefits of a healthy diet and weight loss if needed.
Pre-diabetes Detection
According to the American Diabetes Association, patients who develop type 2 diabetes almost always have pre-diabetes first. These patients tend to have high blood glucose levels, which are not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, but can be detected in an annual physical exam. If detected early enough, patients can begin modifying diet, losing weight and exercising, which can delay the onset of type 2 diabetes or prevent the condition from occurring.
Heart Attack Risks
Patients with a history of high blood pressure are at an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure does not present any symptoms in most patients and is found only during the annual physical examination. Your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of a heart attack if high blood pressure is detected at your annual exam.
Tags: annual physical, blood pressure, begin screening, doctor recommend, early stages, family history, heart attack
