Month: November 2018

Checkups and Tests that should be completed.—Some people see their doctor every year for a physical to make sure everything is OK. There’s debate about whether you need to go that often. In the end, it depends on your:

• Age
• General health
• Risk factors for certain problems

Your doctor will ask you about your health and lifestyle, after they should perform the checkups and tests listed below depending on whether you are a male or female.

• They’ll listen to your heart and lungs and probably get your weight and vital signs. He will check your height and weight as well. What they often do not do is check your body mass index. Keeping your BMI in a healthy range helps protect you from things like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. This measurement is based on a formula of your height to your weight. Your BMI should be between 18.5 to 24.9 to have a healthy weight.
• They always check your blood pressure. 120 over 80 is considered a normal blood pressure. They will consider high blood pressure as 140 over 90.
• Another thing they should do is check your cholesterol. If it is high this could lead to heart disease and strokes.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening should start when you turn 50 unless you have a high risk of cancer in your family. At 50, a Fecal Occult blood test should be done yearly. A sigmoidoscopy, checking your colon should be done every 5 years, and a colonoscopy where your entire colon is observed should occur every 10 years.
• Something else that is not always done is a blood sugar test. This should start at age 45 to check for diabetes or prediabetes. This should be completed every three years.
• Even before your doctor sends you to a dermatologist, he should check for any changes in moles, freckles, and other marks on your skin. When skin cancer is found early it is almost always curable.
• If you are a female, you should have a breast exam every 3-year starting at age 20. When you hit 40 you should have this checked yearly.
• Another test women should have is a mammogram. This is an x-ray that looks at changes in your breasts. Some experts say you should have one every year once you turn 40, others say every 2 years starting at 50 until age 74.
• And still another test for women is a Pap Test, sometimes called a pap smear. This checks for cancer in your cervix area. Starting at age 21 through 29, women should have the test every 3 years. If you’re between 30 and 64, you should get both a Pap test and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years, or just a Pap test every 3 years.
• For a male a routine physical should include checking the penis and testicles. They will check your testicles for tenderness, lumps, or changes in size. For your penis, the doctor might notice sexually transmitted illness like a wart or ulcer. They will check for hernias, and depending on your age, he may check your prostate for size and problems.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope these tips were helpful as you prepare to have a physical exam with checkups and tests completed. Please remember besides being here to help with minor illnesses and accidents, we also preform physical exams and many other medical procedures. We are here 7 days a week when you need us. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to review all the services available at our clinic.