An annual physical is a yearly checkup with your healthcare provider. It’s the foundation of preventive medicine, enabling your doctor to identify developing medical conditions before they worsen and become less treatable.

The Upper Echelon Medical team uses a direct primary care model that eliminates the need for insurance. This means they can provide patients with free, no-rush visits that are included in the monthly membership fees.

The first stage of your annual physical is a review of your medical history and current health issues. Your Upper Echelon Medical provider can answer any questions you have, and you can raise any issues (such as vague symptoms like fatigue) that might be bothering you.

The next stage is a physical exam. Your provider weighs you, measures your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing, and checks your heart and lung sounds. They press on your abdomen (to feel your internal organs), test your reflexes, and check your eyes, ears, and mouth.

Your provider feels your joints, looks at the condition of your skin, hair, and nails, checks for lumps or other abnormalities, and watches how well you move. At the same time, they evaluate your speech, mood, reactions, and other indicators of mental and physical health problems.

Women might require a pelvic exam to check their reproductive organs as part of their annual physical. Upper Echelon Medical also offers women’s health exams focusing on reproductive and sexual health.

Tests are a vital part of the screening process during your annual physical. Screening ensures you don’t have certain potentially life-threatening conditions like cancer, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. If your test results are positive, the Upper Echelon Medical team can act quickly to minimize any harm.

Blood and urine tests are the most common screenings. They can detect many problems, including nutrient deficiencies, anemia (insufficient iron in your blood), infections, and hormone imbalances, in addition to the conditions mentioned above. Women may require a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer, which involves taking a cell swab from the cervix.

If your provider has any concerns, they might order further tests or diagnostic imaging procedures like an X-ray or MRI.

An annual physical is one of the smartest ways of keeping yourself well and avoiding long-term health conditions. To arrange yours, call Upper Echelon Medical today or book an appointment online.