Annual Physical Check-Ups Are Best Guards For Good Health

Jet, April 24, 2000

Many of us take better care of our cars than our own bodies. At the first squeak or rattle, it's off to the mechanic for a full diagnostic check.

But when our bodies show early signs of trouble, we put off visits to the doctor, not realizing that like our cars, medical checkups are vital to remain in good health.

"Being vocal in managing your health care means knowing what to look for in ourselves," Dr. Mark E. Williams, author of the American Geriatrics Society's Complete Guide to Aging & Health and director of the Program on Aging at the University of North Carolina's medical school, told Jacquie Kubin of the Washington Times. "Of course, our doctors should be our definitive resource for health care, but it does not hurt to be aware of some of the things you should be on the lookout for. As they say, an ounce of prevention can be a pound of cure."

Whether a person is 5 or 55, yearly checkups are part of that ounce of prevention. A routine physical ensures that your body is in good health and lets you head off any potentially serious problems.

A physical is a head-to-toe search for signs of trouble, medical experts say. It's typically divided in three parts: history, the exam itself, and laboratory tests. The history includes questions about allergies, medications, past illnesses and hospitalizations. It also involves questions about lifestyle habits that might affect a patient's health, such as drinking, smoking or exercise habits.

"Patients don't realize that when there are no complaints, there is not much that we find upon physical examination just out of the blue. History taking is more important than the actual physical exam," Dr. Martin S. Lipsky, professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Northwestern University Medical School and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, told Jeanne Galatzer-Levy of the Chicago Tribune.

During the exam portion of the checkup, the physician moves down the body, checking that all systems are functioning properly and looking for abnormalities.

Blood pressure is measured, the heart and lungs are listened to for irregularities, the eyes are checked for clues about diabetes and high blood pressure, the throat is checked for infection or obstruction. Arms and hands are examined for signs of neurological damage, breasts are felt for lumps and the abdomen is prodded for masses or signs of disease.

Lab tests make up the last part of the physical. Routine tests such as pap smears, mammograms, prostate, vaginal and rectal exams are scheduled based on age, sex and general health. Other tests, such as X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans may be ordered based on the patient's medical history and any physical exam findings.