Annual Physical Specialist

Annual Physical Q & A

What is an annual physical?

An annual physical is a routine examination that Dr. Medimpudi performs once a year to ensure that you’re in good health. While there are certain tests and diagnostics that are consistent across all annual physicals, Dr. Medimpudi will likely tailor your exam to your personal health history and focus on potential problems that you’re more likely to develop due to your age, genetics, past conditions, or lifestyle.

An annual physical also gives you the opportunity to discuss with Dr. Medimpudi any chronic or lingering health concerns that you might have. Keeping this yearly appointment with her ensures that your health is always being tended to, and that potential problems can be attacked from an approach that’s preventive rather than reactive.

What happens during an annual physical?

There are five major components to an annual physical:

Health history

Your annual physical begins with a discussion of your health history and any new updates or changes to your lifestyle. Dr. Medimpudi asks about your personal and family medical history, vaccination status, medications, allergies, supplements, and any recent surgeries. She also asks about any notable lifestyle behaviors like smoking, excessive alcohol use, diet, sexual health, and exercise.

Vital signs

Next, Dr. Medimpudi checks your vital signs, including your:

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Respiration rate
• Body temperature

Visual check

Next, Dr. Medimpudi examines and analyzes your body’s visual appearance to check for signs of potential medical conditions. She’ll do a thorough visual assessment of your:

• Head
• Eyes
• Chest
• Abdomen
• Musculoskeletal system (like your hands and wrists)
• Nervous system functions (like your speech and walking)

Physical testing

After her visual exam, Dr. Medimpudi will physically check your body for any signs of developing conditions. This might involve any of the following:

• “Palpating” or touching parts of your body to feel for abnormalities
• Testing your motor functions and reflexes
• Listening to your heart and lungs
• Examining your throat and tonsils
• Neurological testing to assess your muscle strength, nerve functioning, balance, and mental state
• Dermatological check of your skin, nails, and hair

Laboratory tests

Dr. Medimpudi completes your annual physical by drawing your blood and ordering laboratory testing. The tests that she runs will largely depend on her assessment of your health and your medical history, but generally speaking, she’ll check your:

• Complete blood count
• Chemistry or complete metabolic panel
• Urinalysis
• Lipid panel (cholesterol test)
• Blood sugar

Are there different tests for men and women?

Yes, there are some different tests that Dr. Medimpudi performs depending on your sex:

Males

For males, Dr. Medimpudi might perform:

• Prostate cancer screening
• Testicular exam
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Females

For females, Dr. Medimpudi might perform:

• Mammogram
• Breast exam
• Pap smear
• Pelvic exam

Don’t wait until there’s a problem to visit a doctor. Start getting on top of your health today by booking an annual physical with Dr. Medimpudi at VCM Family Medicine.