Do you need annual physical exam?
I have heard about “yearly physical exam” but I have never taken the pain to read or ask what it entails. Neither have I ever undergone the procedure.
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While chatting with a friend recently, she mentioned in passing that she’d have to go undertake her annual physical examination. It was after that conversation that I decided to find out what physical exam is all about.
What is annual physical exam?
An annual physical examination is part of preventive measures taken to ensure a long and healthy life for you and your family.
A Consultant Neurologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Patrick Adjei, says it is a yearly consultation with a doctor to check your well-being generally.
He said the annual physical exam is a preventive measure and a source of reassurance that one is healthy or an opportunity to take care of a health issue before it becomes serious.
According to webmd.com, there are no absolutes in a routine physical. A good doctor may be thorough or brief, depending on the individual’s circumstances, any new medical concerns or his or her personal style. A good doctor will spend time listening to your concerns and provide counselling for your particular need.
According to Dr Adjei, the physical exam consists of taking the patient’s history, performing a thorough physical examination such as checking the heart, lung, pulses, blood pressure as well as investigation of blood (laboratory test to check various diseases) and x-ray.
He said after all the checks had been done, the doctor would write a medical report which would help your doctor see if there is need for further referral.
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Is it necessary?
Dr Adjei says it is important to undergo an annual physical exam because it will help you know if you are sick and certain conditions that are fatal may be picked up early.
As you think about improving your business or career, it is also important to give your health some thought. That is why it is important as an employer or employee to undergo a complete physical exam in order to reassure yourself of how healthy you are or see early any potential health risk.
For heads of businesses or corporate institutions it may be a good idea to institute the annual physical exam as part of your health scheme for all workers. Employers no doubt require a healthy workforce to increase productivity. A healthy workforce will also cut down on the medical expenditure of employers and the funds saved can be channeled into other profitable investments.
Initially, it may seem to be a huge budget for the employer but when juxtaposed against the long-term gain, it will make sense.
Source of motivation
Many a time, employers consider money to be the only way to ensure staff motivation, but money without life can be described as meaningless.
Employees will feel motivated when they realise how caring their employers are and are likely to put in their best.
Doctor-patient relationship
Although some may argue that an annual physical exam is not always necessary for someone who is generally healthy or looks healthy, it is nonetheless essential because it is part of the development and continuation of the doctor-patient relationship according to health experts.
It allows the doctor to review all the pertinent aspects of your health history and physical exam and use the data to coordinate a care plan for you that is personalised.
“I have also found that people tend to worry less about their health when they are fully checked once a year. The peace of mind the annual physical exam can bring is important, and the special relationship many patients would like to have with their doctors can be enhanced by these annual visits,” says Dr Ronald Schwartz, Medical Director at Masonicare Health Centre.
So there you have it. Are you calling or making an appointment for a complete physical exam anytime soon? And for employers, are you also arranging one for your staff now?