Adult Physical Specialist

What is Done During an Adult Physical?

Adult physical exams are a great way to ensure that you are maintaining good overall health and that conditions which can present with age do not develop. During the exam, the doctor will review your medical history and assess you for the presence of any medical conditions or illnesses. These exams help a doctor to determine if treatment needs to be administered before the condition gets worse. Typically, when a condition or disease is caught early on it can be treated more effectively. To get a good idea of how your overall health is holding up the doctor will often check your vital signs including heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, breathing levels, and cholesterol. As a patient gets older more test may need to be performed.

What Types of Screening do Older Adults Need?

As we age, our bodies change and more test will be required to ensure that all parts of the body are functioning as they should. Tests performed as a person gets older include:

• Annual physicals from age 19 and older
• Colorectal cancer screenings performed at age 50 and then every 10 years
• Annual skin exams from age 27 and up
• Blood pressure and body mass index performed annually from 19 and up

For women additional tests also include:

• Annual breast exams from 19 and up
• Mammograms performed every two years at age 50
• Pap exams every three years from age 21 to 65
• HPV tests every five years from 30 to 65

For men additional tests also include:

• Testicular exam at health maintenance visit at age 45 to 50
• Prostate cancer screenings starting at age 45 to age 50 depending on risk factors

If any symptoms or concerns arise these tests should be performed at their onset and continue regularly until treatment is complete or the concerns are no longer present.

Will The Doctor Tell Me Which Preventative Screenings Are Needed?

The doctor will go over the necessary test and screenings with each patient. When patients follow the advice from the doctor and maintain healthy lifestyles it can prevent serious issues from developing and ensure that the annual adult checkup goes smoothly.