Published: December 17, 2021 | Updated: October 2, 2023
An annual check up with a primary care provider helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle, receive preventive care, get guidance about any health concerns and build a relationship with your doctor. An ongoing relationship with a health care provider makes communicating sensitive information much easier.
Your annual check up may include health screenings and blood tests, and with most insurance plans, your check up physical exam is covered 100% with no copays.
Barry Barmore was feeling a little sluggish, but his annual checkup revealed much more.
Read Barry’s Story
An annual check up allows your primary care provider to identify any potential health concerns before they become more serious or difficult to treat.
Your annual wellness visit often will include screenings and tests to detect common health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and certain cancers. Identifying these conditions early allows for timely intervention and appropriate management.
An annual physical exam provides an opportunity to discuss your health goals, receive guidance on nutrition, exercise and stress management, and receive vaccinations or preventive treatments.
For individuals with chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), asthma or heart disease, regular check ups are crucial for monitoring disease, adjusting treatment plans and managing the condition.
A regular check up provides an opportunity to review medications and make any necessary adjustments. This ensures that medications are effective, safe and appropriate for your current health status.
Wellness visits often involve assessing mental health and well-being. Sometimes, mental issues can show up as physical symptoms and vice versa. Your health care provider typically will ask about stress, anxiety, depression or other concerns.
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has a recommended list of vaccinations for adults. Annual wellness visits are an opportunity to receive these immunizations and stay up to date to protect against disease.
Your check up helps establish a baseline of health measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and other vital signs. These baselines can be used for comparison in future visits to track changes.
A health care provider can tailor preventive care recommendations based on an individual’s age, gender, family history and lifestyle habits. These recommendations may include screenings, lifestyle modifications and counseling.
Your annual check up may result in follow-up visits. The frequency of your office visits may vary depending on factors such as age, medical history and risk factors.
A physical exam is a routine visit, typically scheduled for once a year. Your medical provider will make sure you complete any necessary screenings (may include Pap smear, scheduling a mammogram, prostate cancer blood test and other checks). They also will ask you general health questions and collect blood and urine for testing.
An office visit is for when you have a specific concern.
Family medicine or internal medicine specialists can perform physical exams as well as treat you in an office visit.
Your primary care provider will look for any early signs of disease and help you arrange annual screenings you may need. Many conditions such as heart disease and cancer can be treated successfully when caught early.
Write down any questions you may have, such as:
Some of the following may take place at your annual physical appointment:
Your provider will use all of this information to formulate a plan to help keep you healthy and address any chronic issues. Primary care physicians are trained to uncover potential health issues, and catching those early increases the chance for a healthier future.
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