Annual physical exam

Even if you feel fine, you may be due for a doctor’s visit. Your annual physical exam is an important appointment that can help lower your risk of serious health conditions.

At Aurora Health Care, we offer a range of easy-to-access primary care services. With multiple locations throughout Wisconsin and simple scheduling, we make it easy to get the care you need, when and where you need it.

What is an annual checkup?

An annual check-up is a health care visit where your provider performs a routine examination of your general health. They may make recommendations about lifestyle changes that can lower your risk of chronic conditions. Your annual checkup may also include preventive screenings. An annual checkup is also called an annual exam, annual physical or yearly physical.

What doctors perform annual exams?

Primary care providers are the specialists who offer annual exams. Your primary care provider may be a:

• Family medicine physician: These doctors provide primary care for people of all ages. You may have one family medicine physician who treats your whole family.
• Internal medicine physician: Internal medicine physicians provide similar services as family medicine physicians, but they only treat patients ages 18 and older.
• Nurse practitioner: A nurse practitioner (NP) is a healthcare provider with a master’s degree or higher. They’re qualified to serve as your primary care provider. This means they can offer your annual exam, diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, and prescribe medications.
• Physician assistant: A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare provider with master’s degree-level training or higher. Like NPs, PAs can serve as primary care providers and perform annual exams. They can also diagnose diseases and injuries and provide treatment, including prescribing medications.

What to expect during an annual exam

When you arrive for your annual exam, a nurse or medical assistant will check you in and ask if you have any significant updates you’d like to discuss with your provider. They’ll typically also take your vital signs and measure your height and weight. Then, your primary care provider:

• Checks your head, neck, heartbeat and lungs
• Discusses any health concerns you may have
• Tells you if they have any concerns about your health and makes treatment recommendations as needed

Your annual exam may also include preventive screenings, vaccinations or blood tests. Your provider may direct you to schedule any of these at a later date. You may need a follow-up appointment or a referral to a specialist, depending on your health needs.

What should a yearly physical include?

Every provider may perform a yearly physical slightly differently. But your annual exam includes the same general components.

General appearance

Your provider can learn a lot about your health just by interacting with you. Your mobility and alertness can give your provider some information about your general physical and mental status. Your provider may also look at your skin.

Depression screening

You may fill out a form that asks you about your moods, energy, concentration and sleep habits. Your answers can tell your provider whether you’re at risk for conditions like depression or anxiety. They may provide recommendations to help improve your mental health or refer you to other treatments such as therapy.

Health history

Your provider asks if you’ve had any recent changes in your health. They’ll also ask you about your lifestyle, including your exercise and eating habits, alcohol consumption and whether you smoke. You may provide updates to your family history if you have any.

Vital signs

Your annual physical always includes a check of your vital signs, such as:

• Blood pressure: A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or lower. If your blood pressure is greater than 140/80 mmHg, your provider may recommend treatments or lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure.
• Heart rate: A healthy heart rate is typically between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, you may have a pulse lower than 60 beats per minute and still be in good overall health. A nurse or medical assistant measures your heart rate by taking your pulse (placing two or three fingers on the inside of your wrist).
• Respiration: Respiration rate refers to how many breaths you take per minute. Taking 12 to 16 breaths per minute is considered a healthy rate for adults. Taking more than 20 breaths per minute could point to a potential heart or lung problem.
• Temperature: Your temperature should be around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. For many people, it’s normal for your average temperature to be slightly higher or lower.

Head and neck exam

Your provider examines your mouth, nose and ears to look for any signs of health problems. They’ll also touch the lymph nodes in your neck to check for any pain or lumps.

Heart exam

Your provider listens to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. They do this to check for an irregular heart rhythm, heart murmur or any other signs of a heart condition.

Is ECG part of an annual physical?

An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) isn’t usually part of your annual physical. However, your provider may offer one if you have a family history or significant risk factors for heart disease. They may also offer a routine ECG if you’re older than 65.

Lung exam

Your provider listens to your lungs with a stethoscope. Wheezing or crackling sounds when you inhale or exhale could be a sign of a heart or lung problem.

Why do you need an annual physical exam?

An annual exam helps to increase the chances that your provider detects any chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer, in early stages. An annual exam gives your provider a baseline of your overall health. When you return the next year, your provider can easily spot small changes that might be the beginnings of a chronic disease. When you find these conditions early, they’re often much easier to treat.

Your primary care provider has special training to spot the early signs of chronic diseases. They can also make recommendations to help you prevent them.

What are the benefits of a yearly checkup?

Besides early disease detection, your annual checkup is an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your primary care provider. If you do get sick, it’s good to have an established relationship with a primary care provider. This specialist has a complete picture of your health and can provide you with quick, effective treatment if urgent health needs arise.

Cost of an annual exam

Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover annual exams with no out-of-pocket costs. If you don’t have health insurance, our team will help you understand the cost of the exam before your appointment. Find out more about pricing and financial assistance.