Annual Physical Exams
Annual Physical Exams Eliminating Chronic Diseases
Our major goal as a primary care practice is the elimination of chronic diseases, (that is diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, gout, arthritis, osteoporosis, and certain forms of cancers) in our patient population and the general community, through primary preventative medicine.
Primary preventative medicine is concerned with preventing the occurrence of both physical and mental illnesses and diseases. These efforts include general promotion of health through physical exams and immunization.
We believe that an annual physical exam for both children and adults is the best way to accomplish our goal. An annual physical exam may discover things that have not brought about symptoms. Example, an annual cholesterol level may reveal a high level. Elevated cholesterol levels may be an indication of the tendency to develop clogged arteries and heart disease.
Ten years ago, we took the initiative to move towards prevention because we felt it was the only way to reduce chronic diseases and lower the financial burden of health care. It is much more cost effective for a patient to see a dietitian for four sessions than it is for a patient to go through a heart bypass operation.
| Test/Procedure | Sex | Age | Frequency | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigmoidoscopy | M/F | over 50 | After 2 neg. exams 1 year apart, perform every 3-5 years | ||||
| Stool Guajac Slide Test | M/F | over 40 | Every year | ||||
| Digital Rectal Examination | M/F | over 40 | Every year | ||||
| Pelvic Examination Pap Smear | F | over 40 | All women who are, or who have been, sexually active or have reached age 16, should have an annual Pap test and pelvic examination. | ||||
| Prostate | M | 40 & over | Every year | ||||
| Mammography | M | 35-39, 40-49, 50 & over | Baseline every 1-2 years between years | ||||
| PSA Level | M | 50 & over | |||||
| Chest X-Ray | At the discretion of your doctor | ||||||
| Sputum Cytology | Not recommended | ||||||
| Health Counseling & Cancer Checkup | M/F |
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