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Author: P. Lynn Richman, M.D.
Clinic: Banning Avenue Clinic

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The goal of the complete physical exam is the prevention or early detection of disease, to optimize your health throughout your lifetime. A complete physical exam is a comprehensive health screening emphasizing long term health goals, beginning with a questionnaire that you will complete. Your physician will review this questionnaire to determine the need for tests, counseling, and other preventive services. An examination of all the major body systems will then be performed, based on the questionnaire responses and focusing on the needs of your particular gender and age group. For example, women over age forty need annual professional breast exams, and men over age 50 should have an annual rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer.

 

     The complete physical is a good time for your physician to review your individual need for diagnostic testing. This is determined by family history, risk factors, and published screening guidelines. For example, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that all low-risk adults over age 50 have a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, as well as annual fecal occult blood testing. Other organizations do not recommend the occult blood testing. Mammography is now recommended annually for women age 40 and older, by some organizations, and above age 50 by other organizations. Cholesterol testing should be performed at least every 5 years after age 18. The recommended frequency of pap smears for women is every 1 - 3 years, depending on risk factors. Blood testing for prostate cancer is recommended annually above age 50, or beginning 5 years before the age of onset of prostate cancer in a first-degree relative. It is no longer felt that routine screening of asymptomatic individuals for hemoglobin, blood chemistry, or urinalysis is necessary.

 

      The complete physical is considered a well-person exam. Any current illness or injuries may have to be evaluated at a separate appointment to ensure adequate attention. If any of these concerns are urgent, the complete physical can be rescheduled. Consider scheduling your health screening exam with your primary physician in your birth month when you are due for the evaluation.