Top 4 Reasons To Schedule A Physical With Your Primary Care Physician

Whether you're an adult who sees a family practitioner or an internal medicine physician as your primary care physician, it is very important to always schedule your annual physical exam with your doctor. Making an appointment with your doctor when you're feeling great and don't have any signs of sickness may seem odd, but a physical is very important for managing your overall health, especially as you grow older. Some of the top reasons to schedule a physical with your primary care physician include the following:

Discuss Vaccines

Most people are vaccinated as children, but not all vaccines provide protection for a lifetime. There are also new vaccines being developed, which you may benefit from. During an annual physical, your doctor will be able to review your medical records and determine if you are in need of booster shots or additional vaccinations to protect you from dangerous diseases.

Preventative Healthcare

Having regular physicals is an excellent way to help prevent future health problems. During most physicals, your doctor will do a physical exam and also have your blood drawn for different types of testing. Your doctor may be able to identify risk factors or early-onset issues during your physical, and he or she will work with you to create a treatment plan that will help prevent you from developing chronic conditions that can severely affect your health and result in needing invasive medical treatment.

Schedule Screenings

As a person ages, he or she will need several preventative screenings that will help ensure that problems are caught early. Your doctor will know what types of screenings you need based on your age and health. Some common screenings that can identify health issues at an early stage include procedures like mammograms and colonoscopies. 

Review Medications

It is not uncommon for people to be prescribed medications for long-term use. In many cases, these medications are used to manage chronic health issues. Most doctors will not continue to renew prescriptions without seeing their patient. A physical is the perfect time to have your health checked out while also talking to your doctor about the medications that you are taking and how well they are working for you.

If you have noticed that a prescribed medication is either not working or has stopped working as well as it used to, you can speak with your doctor about it during your physical. Your doctor will then be able to look into other options to help you manage your condition.