How Often Should I Get a Physical?

One of the best ways to safeguard your health is to take a proactive stance by visiting us regularly for a checkup. These all-important visits provide us with a glimpse at how your body is functioning and allow us to spot potential problems before they become serious, or even life-altering, medical issues.

Here at Walker Family Care, we provide physical exams of all kinds, from your annual checkup to more specific physical exams for your employer, your school, your healthcare provider, and even the Department of Transportation (DOT). Whatever the reason, Rogers Walker, MD, and his staff provide comprehensive examinations for their patients in Little River, South Carolina.

Your annual check-in

To answer the initial question posed in the title — How often should I get a physical? — the answer is, at least annually, if only for your own peace of mind. During these annual check-ins, we record some important vital statistics that give us the opportunity to study your year-over-year numbers in order to spot any trends that may bear further investigation.

And this usually starts with your blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol numbers. Cardiovascular issues are serious, but catching problems early may give us the rare opportunity to reverse any alarming trends. For example, if we find that your blood pressure is elevated, we can help you take steps to lower it through weight loss and exercise. And the same holds true for your cholesterol numbers.

Leaving your heart for a moment, we also take a close look at your organ health through blood tests, a urinalysis, and a physical exam. This means we study your liver and kidney function, as well as your lungs and gastrointestinal system. Each of these areas can have a serious impact on your health, so we want to make sure that everything is functioning properly.

Another aspect of your annual physical exam is to evaluate your cognitive and motor functions. To do this, we check your balance, eyesight, hearing, reflexes, and much more. If we spot a problem, we can discuss ways to prevent any further deterioration, as well as corrective measures you can take to improve how you make your way through the world.

Ultimately, this annual visit with Dr. Walker is a great time to bring up any concerns you may have in order to stay one step ahead of your health.

Meeting requirements

Another reason why you may need to undergo regular physical exams is to meet specific health requirements. For example, many schools require a physical exam before the school year starts to ensure that your child has the necessary vaccinations and doesn’t pose a risk to other children.

As well, if your child wants to participate in sports, they may be required to submit proof that they’re physically fit and can withstand the rigors of their chosen sport.

Many employers also require physical exams, as well as federal regulatory bodies like the Department of Transportation (DOT). In order to protect drivers on the almost four million miles of roadways, the DOT requires that commercial drivers undergo a physical exam to check heart health, cognitive health, and other potential health risks.

Lastly, if you’re covered by Medicare, you likely have to undergo an annual wellness exam, which we routinely perform at our office.

In all of these cases, our staff works with you to get the information you need and helps fill out any necessary paperwork.

The bottom line is that a regular visit with Dr. Walker goes a long way toward ensuring your long-term health. So whether your employer or school sends you, or you’re just being proactive about your health, we can perform a thorough and comprehensive exam to make sure you’re in the pink of health.

To schedule your physical exam, please give us a call or use the booking tool on this website to schedule an appointment.