Physical Examination Specialist Q&A

A physical exam is a regular check-up on your health to determine how your health is and if there have been any changes since the last checkup. A physical can also be done to determine if you’re healthy enough to engage in activities like school, sporting activities, or work. A physical can also allow you to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling and if you have any health concerns.

It is recommended that you get a physical exam every year, especially as you get older. A physical exam will check for possible diseases so that they can be treated. It will identify indicators of potential medical issues that could arise in the future. This is a time when immunizations can be updated. They can be a time of education on healthy practices and a time to build on your relationship with your primary care doctor.

There are many routine physicals that can be done. These can be the annual physicals to check on any changes in your health, work physicals, and school or sports physicals. Some professions require specified physicals.

Schools may require physicals that include information about vaccinations. There are physicals to study or work abroad. Physicals are done to help make sure that you can work, play, or travel.

Some professions require their workers to be in good overall health, so they perform their duties safely. These include:

• DOT Physicals
• Merchant marine or Coast Guard physicals
• Firefighters and police physicals
• Volunteers going abroad, like the Peace Corps
• Commercial Pilot physicals
• Travel physicals

Physicals can be done that focus on sexual health or substance use. Physicals have a wide array of purposes.

An annual physical exam is a time to check on your health past and present. The doctor will want to ask questions about how you are feeling, and any pains, complaints, or concerns that you have. The doctor will want to know things about your lifestyle because these can impact your health now and in the future. They will want to know about your diet, sexual health, if you smoke, how much you drink, and if you exercise. They will check on your vaccination history and status and update your medical history.

The doctor or medical professional will check your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, how you are breathing, and body temperature. During the physical, the doctor will check many other aspects of your health, which can include how you walk and stand, your reflexes, and anything related to your medical history.

The physical will often include specific lab tests like blood work to check on triglycerides, cholesterol, cell counts, and other chemical analyses if needed. You may need to have a urinalysis done, and possibly other screenings.

While school, sports, or work physicals are done to make sure that you are fit to participate or work, the annual physical is done for prevention and to identify changes in health at an early stage. These factors will help you to be healthier, live longer, and help to keep your health care costs down.

Fast Aid Urgent Care provides physicals for primary care and DOT physicals. We can help with other physicals, as well. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Bulverde Rd San Antonio TX, Windcrest TX, Selma TX, Bastrop TX, Paige TX, Smithville TX, Alamo Ranch San Antonio TX, Leon Valley TX, Helotes TX, La Grange TX, Rabbs Prairie TX, Halsted TX, Leon Springs TX, Fair Oaks Ranch TX, Cross Mountain TX, New Braunfels TX, Hunter TX, Zorn TX, Potranco Road San Antonio TX, Rio Medina TX, Rolling Oaks Estates TX, Dripping Springs, TX, Saddletree Ranch TX, and Belterra TX.