What Is Included in an Annual Check-up Visit?

Many people overlook the importance of check-ups, especially if they feel like they’re in good health. Even if your tests come back clear, having a baseline can help your doctor keep track of your health, making it easier to detect anomalies. The best way to stay healthy is to maintain your wellness in the first place, which is why we provide preventive care with annual visits.  

At Lakepointe Direct Primary Care in Lewisville, Texas, Dr. Marcelo Brito strives to educate patients about the value of preventive medicine, including annual physicals. These help our team obtain and monitor patients’ baseline markers so any changes are quickly identified.

The importance of annual check-ups 

Check-ups and annual physicals are considered preventive medicine, a type of care focused on early diagnosis and disease prevention. One-third of healthcare visits are for preventive care, making it one of the most common reasons to visit your doctor, and arguably one of the most important. 

Not everyone shows symptoms of being sick, especially in the early stages of chronic conditions, such as: 

• Prediabetes and diabetes 
• Hormone imbalance (thyroid disease)
• Osteoporosis 
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Cancer  

Early diagnosis can help you identify any risk and possibly reverse the early stages of chronic diseases before they have time to worsen, which could save your life. 

What’s included in an annual check-up

Depending on your age and gender, the specifics of your check-up might differ from someone else. Generally, most annual check-ups begin with a review of your medical history. After testing your blood/urine/stool samples, your doctor asks questions to gain more insight into your lifestyle and overall health.  

We check your vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, and breathing. We also perform a physical examination, checking your mouth, ears, nose, and lymph nodes. We might palpate your limbs and torso to check for abnormalities, and recommend additional diagnostics, such as x-rays or scans. 

If you are a woman, you might require a pelvic exam, breast exam, or pap smear if you haven’t had one in the last year or two. Men require regular examinations of the testicles and prostate. Regardless of your gender, we offer discrete screening for sexually-transmitted illnesses (STIs) making it easy to seek tests and treatment without shame. 

Your annual check-up also serves as a chance to connect with your doctor and bring up concerns. Suspicious moles, strange lumps or rashes, and other issues can all be discussed during your check-up. 

Ready for your annual visit? Contact the team at Lakepointe Primary Care by calling 972-315-8588, or book an appointment online.