Patient education: Routine physical for adults (The Basics)

What is a physical? — A physical is a routine visit, or "check-up," with your doctor. You might also hear it called a "wellness visit" or "preventive visit."

During each visit, the doctor will:

●Ask about your physical and mental health

●Ask about your habits, behaviors, and lifestyle

●Do an exam

●Give you vaccines if needed

●Talk to you about any medicines you take

●Give advice about your health

●Answer your questions

Getting regular check-ups is an important part of taking care of your health. It can help your doctor find and treat any problems you have. But it's also important for preventing health problems.

A routine physical is different from a "sick visit." A sick visit is when you see a doctor because of a health concern or problem. Since physicals are scheduled ahead of time, you can think about what you want to ask the doctor.

How often should I get a physical? — It depends on your age and health. In general, for people age 21 years and older:

●If you are younger than 50 years, you might be able to get a physical every 3 years.

●If you are 50 years or older, your doctor might recommend a physical every year.

If you have an ongoing health condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor will probably want to see you more often.

What happens during a physical? — In general, each visit will include:

●Physical exam – The doctor or nurse will check your height, weight, heart rate, and blood pressure. They will also look at your eyes and ears. They will ask about how you are feeling and whether you have any symptoms that bother you.

●Medicines – It's a good idea to bring a list of all the medicines you take to each doctor visit. Your doctor will talk to you about your medicines and answer any questions. Tell them if you are having any side effects that bother you. You should also tell them if you are having trouble paying for any of your medicines.

●Habits and behaviors – This includes:

•Your diet

•Your exercise habits

•Whether you smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs

•Whether you are sexually active

•Whether you feel safe at home

Your doctor will talk to you about things you can do to improve your health and lower your risk of health problems. They will also offer help and support. For example, if you want to quit smoking, they can give you advice and might prescribe medicines. If you want to improve your diet or get more physical activity, they can help you with this, too.

●Lab tests, if needed – The tests you get will depend on your age and situation. For example, your doctor might want to check your:

•Cholesterol

•Blood sugar

•Iron level

●Vaccines – The recommended vaccines will depend on your age, health, and what vaccines you already had. Vaccines are very important because they can prevent certain serious or deadly infections.

●Discussion of screening – "Screening" means checking for diseases or other health problems before they cause symptoms. Your doctor can recommend screening based on your age, risk, and preferences. This might include tests to check for:

•Cancer, such as breast, prostate, cervical, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, lung, or skin cancer

•Sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea

•Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety

Your doctor will talk to you about the different types of screening tests. They can help you decide which screenings to have. They can also explain what the results might mean.

●Answering questions – The physical is a good time to ask the doctor or nurse questions about your health. If needed, they can refer you to other doctors or specialists, too.

Adults older than 65 years often need other care, too. As you get older, your doctor will talk to you about:

●How to prevent falling at home

●Hearing or vision tests

●Memory testing

●How to take your medicines safely

●Making sure that you have the help and support you need at home

More on this topic

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Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for adults (The Basics)
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