1. What is the purpose of an Basic Adult physical examination?

The main purpose of the physical examination is to check your general health and determine whether there are any underlying medical problems that may become an issue in the future. It’s always better to identify any disease in its early stages. The exam is an opportunity for you to check your sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure, update necessary immunizations, and maintain a good relationship with your PCP. Your physician may also advise you on how to live a healthier and more active life.

2. Are women and men tested differently?

There are many tests for both men and women, such as STI’s, lung cancer, and diabetes screening, HIV tests, Hepatitis C test (usually after the age of 50) as well as syphilis test. Nevertheless, there are some tests that are designated for solely men or women. For the former, it is recommended to also do a prostate cancer screening, testicular exam, or abdominal aortic aneurysm. As for women, they should additionally have a pelvic and breast exam done as well as osteoporosis screening, Pap smear and mammogram.

3. What should I bring with me to the physical examination in Spring Hill?

To get the most from your physical examination, it’s crucial to properly prepare yourself beforehand. It’s wise to make a list of the current medications you take, including any supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Other than that, don’t forget to take with you any recent test results. We also encourage you to ask yourself the following questions ahead of time. Your answers will help your PCP to better evaluate your health:

• Do you have any concerns related to your health? Have you been experiencing any pain or discomfort recently?
• Are there any factors that may affect your health, such as diet, stress, smoking, lack of physical activity, etc)?
• Do you have any illnesses in your history?
• Are there any hereditary conditions in your family history, or recently discovered issues within your family?

Please keep in mind that during your physical examination in Spring Hill, the physician will fully examine your body, therefore it might be reasonable to wear comfortable clothes.

4. What happens during the Basic Adult physical examination?

If you choose LifeGuard Urgent Care for your physical examination in Spring Hill, the first thing you will need to do after showing up at our office is to complete a form where you will have to answer a set of questions about your medical history (past surgeries, allergies, etc.). Then, one of the physicians will speak with you. The questions that we asked in the section above will come in handy during this interview. Confide in your physician and don’t be shy to tell him/her about everything that concerns you. This appointment is your private time with your PCP and you can feel free to ask as many health-related questions as you have. Next, the physician will measure your blood pressure; check your heart and respiratory rate, followed by inspecting your body to look for any unusual marks or growths. They will check your eyes, ears, nose, throat, skin, nails, motor functions and reflexes. Last but not least, the doctor will draw your blood for a couple of laboratory tests. This final step is an integral part of the exam. Blood test results may indicate any issues with kidneys, liver, immune system, and blood chemistry. It may be required to do a lipid panel or a diabetes screening.

5. Is a follow up visit always required?

Soon after the physical examination in Spring Hill, one of the members of our medical staff will contact you by phone or email to go over the report with you and give you a copy of your test results. Whether or not a follow up visit will be required depends on the results. If they are within norm, you won’t have to come by again. However, if based on the report the physician suspects that some further medical problems may arise, you will need some additional screenings.

6. Are there any risks involving the test?

There are no risks involving the test. The only discomfort that the patient may experience is minor pain during the blood drawing as the needle has to be inserted under the skin.

7. Why do schools require annual school physicals?

Those schools that require a school physical exam always want to make sure that the children are protected against any serious diseases that might be a threat to other students, their friends, etc.

8. When is the ideal time to schedule a school physical exam?

The best time to schedule your child’s physical is before the next academic year begins. Most of our young patients who get their school physical exam in Spring Hill visit us in Summer. However, since some camps may require submitting your kids’ physical. We encourage you to set up an appointment for your children in Spring. Although don’t delay until the last month before school because that is the busiest period and slots tend to fill up very fast.

9. How to prepare your child for his/her school physical exam?

First of all, talk to your child. Explain to them what does the exam look like (tell them about how the physician will check their eyes, ears, blood pressure, weight, height, etc.). Let them know about the immunizations they will receive. And finally ask them if they have been experiencing any pain or discomfort lately. And make sure to bring that up during the visit. The more your child knows about the exam, the less stress the appointment will cause. Second of all, think whether you have noticed anything odd about your child’s health condition. List all the over-the-counter medications they are taking. And don’t forget to mention any changes in your family medical history to the doctor.

10. What’s the difference between sports and school physical?

The main difference between those two is their purpose. Sports physicals are mainly aimed at injury prevention. Moreover based on the results of the exam. The physician will determine whether or not a student is eligible to play a particular sport. Without risking any health issues related to heart, lungs, etc. Apart from evaluating overall health and ability to perform, our physician may also give you some tips on how to avoid getting injured. Whereas, school physicals, as mentioned before, focus on more issues than just a child’s capability of participating in sports.

If you would like more information about school physicals in Spring Hill go to our article about: “What do you need to know about school physical exam in Spring Hill?”

Book your physical exam in Spring Hill today

At LifeGuard Urgent Care, our medical team is dedicated to provide you with the care that you need to stay healthy. We do our best to build a strong relationship with our patients based on trust and empathy. Contact us today to schedule your physical examination in Spring Hill – or simply drop in! Don’t forget that many health conditions are treatable when detected at an early enough stage.