Dr. Paul Norwood, The Importance of an Annual Medical Exam
If you’re like most people, seeing the doctor when you’re
feeling alright is probably the last thing on your mind. Needless to say,
however, even though most people don’t see the doctor unless they feel like
it’s absolutely necessary, this approach is extremely dangerous and can delay
diagnosis of underlying conditions.
Additionally, since the symptoms of most conditions and diseases
do not appear until the situation has become considerably worse, getting an
annual medical exam is a great idea to figure out what exactly is going on with
your body, and make the right changes to your lifestyle to prevent
complications
Still not convinced of the importance of annual medical
examinations? Here are a few more reasons that can help change your mind about
medical examinations and convince you to see your doctor for an annual physical
examination.
Professional Screening
As unfortunate as it may sound, quite a large number of
people across the globe resort to self diagnosis. While this approach may work
just fine for the common cold or even the flu, other situations such as
prolonged stomach pains or muscle spasms should never be ignored
Since most debilitating illnesses, diseases, and conditions
often appear in the form of symptoms that could easily go undiagnosed or
mistaken for other, less severe ones, it is best to see a doctor to ensure that
you are in the clear at all times. You need to in a position to be able to take
prompt action should the need arise.
Risk Assessment
There are no second opinions about the fact that annual
medical examinations are ideal for risk assessment. Even if the results of your
medical examination come out normal, seeing your doctor regularly is a great
way to ensure that you’re not at risk for developing any serious conditions or
illnesses down the road.
Even if there aren’t any anomalies in the results of your
medical examination, getting a thorough checkup once a year can help both you
and your doctor understand the true condition of your health. Additionally, if,
for instance, you have borderline high blood pressure or cholesterol levels
with a family history of diabetes or heart disease, it will be safe for doctors
to assume that you, too, are at risk. This will give you and your doctor enough
time to work together and develop the appropriate course of action.
Update Vaccinations
Contrary to popular belief, vaccinations are not just for
children. It is also imperative for adults to get booster shots every now and
then to ensure that they are always safe and do not fall sick frequently.
Additionally, since the type of vaccination that you might need depends on a
number of different factors including your age, it is apt that you visit your
doctor on a yearly basis for the right examinations and to update your
vaccinations.
Healthy Lifestyle
Regardless of whether or not there are any problems with the
results of your medical examination, visiting a doctor will help you understand
the changes that you need to make to your lifestyle in order to remain healthy
and active for years to come.
Additionally, since letting go of certain dangerous habits
such as smoking or binge eating can be difficult without the intervention of a
professional, your annual medical exam doctor will also be able to provide you
with the right resources to change your life for the better. And since your health
depends on a number of different factors, visiting a doctor regularly for checkups
will ensure that the doctor has complete understanding of your medical history
and all conditions that you might have, allowing them to provide you with the
best advice to achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What to Expect in an Annual Physical Examination?
While there really isn’t a fixed standard that decides what
will and will not be included in an annual physical examination, there are some
things that you should expect in every annual physical examination.
When you visit your doctor for your annual physical
examination, it goes without saying that your doctor will specifically ask you
if you’ve been facing any problems with your health in recent weeks or months.
Depending on your response, you will be thoroughly checked to ensure that the
doctor fully understands and assesses the situation and pinpoints any
underlying problems or conditions.
Next, the doctor will check your vital signs to get an idea
of your overall health and wellbeing. Once your blood pressure, temperature,
heart rate and respiration rate are checked, the doctor might start asking you
some more basic questions about your health and physical state in general. By
doing so, the doctor will not only figure out what they need to regarding your
responsiveness and mental quickness, but the doctor might even throw in a
question or two to test your memory.
Once this is done, your doctor will get into more thorough
testing and examinations of important organs such as your lungs and heart.
Using a stethoscope, the doctor will listen to your heartbeat to check for
irregularities or any signs that could potentially be caused by cardiac
problems or diseases. Your lungs, too, will be checked for any wheezing,
crackles, or shortness of breath which could be an indicator of respiratory
issues.
The overall health of your skin, sinuses, eyes, and teeth
will also be checked in a physical examination so that the doctor gets a clear
picture of your overall health. Finally, you should expect your doctor to check
your lymph nodes, thyroid, tonsils, and ears to ensure that you’re in the
clear.
*** Paul Norwood, MD, leads the
team at Valley Endocrine in Fresno, California. Valued by his community for his
caring and kind personality as well as his skills as a physician, Dr. Paul
Norwood is also respected nationwide for his expertise as an endocrinologist.
In 1993, Dr. Norwood founded Valley Endocrine Clinic, which
specializes in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, as well as Valley
Research, which does clinical trials.
References
Video: Dr. Paul Norwood M.D. of Valley Research discusses treatments
and medicine to treat conditions like diabetes, chronic migraines, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ueoj-gOs5M
*** Dr. Paul Norwood, medical doctor in Fresno, California, specializing in endocrinology.
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