Stay on Top of Your Health This Year With an Annual Physical

It's easy to get caught up in the business of life – making it hard to stay on top of your health when you forget to see the doctor regularly. With 2023 ending quickly, it's time to start thinking about taking control of your health for a kickstart to 2024.

An annual physical exam is essential to avoiding health complications and taking a step forward in staying healthy in the new year. It's a great way to manage chronic conditions, discuss your medications, and get necessary vaccinations.

Dr. Joseph Goin and his team offer annual, sports, and DOT physicals at Calvary Urgent Care in Humble, Texas. Dr. Goin specializes in urgent and primary care to give the community a place to come for acute and chronic health needs.

What is an annual physical?

An annual physical exam allows a doctor to evaluate your health, including pre-existing or new conditions affecting your well-being. It's also an opportunity to check your height, weight, and vital signs to assess your overall health.

Although it may seem strange to go to the doctor when you're not sick, an annual physical helps you avoid illness and other issues throughout the year.

During a physical exam, Dr. Goin considers your medical and family history and focuses on areas of concern. For example, if you have a family history of heart disease, he checks your blood pressure and bloodwork for signs of trouble.

Your annual physical exam is also a chance to discuss prevention measures. Dr. Goin considers any diagnostic studies, personal health history, and age for your present and future health plans.

What to expect at your physical

Your annual physical exam focuses on your whole body. When you come in for your appointment, a nurse takes you to an exam room and starts the process by getting your height and weight.

We then take your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration. We also look at your pulse oximetry, which tells us the amount of oxygen in your blood.

After getting your baseline information, we ask about any problems or issues you've had since your last visit. We discuss any medications you take to update your records and ensure they work for you.

Dr. Goin asks you about any changes in your family history or personal health to determine where the exam should focus. He then performs the physical portion of the annual exam, which includes:

Vision and hearing exam
Listening to heart and lung sounds
Checking reflexes
Palpating the abdomen
Looking at the skin
Looking in the ears, nose, and throat
Checking motor and sensory function
Genital or rectal exams

Dr. Goin may also need to do specific exams for women and men, including prostate exams, pap smears, or breast exams during your annual physical.

He can also order blood work, imaging studies, or other diagnostic tests to check different aspects of your health.

Can I get vaccines for my annual exam?

A significant aspect of your annual exam is prevention measures for long-term good health. One of the ways you can keep yourself healthy is through regular vaccinations.

You can certainly get routine vaccinations at your annual exam. Dr. Goin discusses with you what vaccinations are best for your specific needs and may suggest some of the following vaccines:

Influenza
COVID-19
Shingles
Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough
Measles, mumps, rubella
Chickenpox
HPV
Hepatitis B
RSV
Pneumococcal

We base these vaccines on your age and risk factors for certain diseases. Dr. Goin follows the CDC's guidelines for vaccines recommended for specific ages. He also offers travel vaccinations when planning to travel to particular areas of the world with different diseases than we have in the United States.

The bottom line is that your annual physical exam is a great time to take control of your health and talk to Dr. Goin about any issues you're having presently or in the past.

To schedule your annual physical exam, call our Humble, Texas practice at 832-680-2273 or request an appointment on our website today.