With flu and cold season behind us and a busy summer season ahead, it is the perfect time to schedule your annual physical. Don't head to the doctor unprepared; even the best physicians can’t give you the right answers if you don’t know what questions to ask. 

Everest College’s Allied Health Chair Nancy Smith provides a few tips to make sure your annual physical is more beneficial than just a quick check-up.

1. All Signs Point To: Normal

Following a routine physical exam, you should ask your doctor if your vital signs are within “normal” limits. This includes your blood pressure and pulse. Check to make sure your heart is not beating irregularly and that your blood pressure is around a healthy 120/80 mm Hg. Also, be sure to ask about the tone of your skin and nails as abnormal texture and appearance provide clues to underlying disorders, such as melanoma, liver diseases or diabetes.  

2. Better or Worse?

 “Understanding and acknowledging how your body has changed since your last checkup can be the first step to noticing larger issues,” said Nancy Smith.  If you noticed a change in your weight or blood pressure, ask your healthcare provider how to maintain your health or how to manage something that has become an issue. 

3. The Family Tree

Discussing your family medical history can help your healthcare provider become aware of underlying issues. “Physicians can’t help you to the best of their ability unless they are fully informed about your history,” said Nancy. Awareness of your family history of cancers, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes or other diseases can help properly examine you and make sure you are not at risk for developing the same ailments.

4. Vaccines

While most people tend to only correlate vaccines with children, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Close to 50,000 adults die each year from diseases that could have been prevented from common vaccinations. Ask your healthcare provider to review which of your vaccinations are up to date and which need refreshing.

5. Screenings

Depending on age, risk factors, health status, and family history, you should ask what screenings would be relevant. Some birthdays in particular require certain screenings, for men and women. Potential screenings include:

• Cholesterol Checks: Men and Women should begin bi-yearly cholesterol checks after age 40
• Colorectal Cancer Screenings: Men and Women should begin regular colonoscopies around age 50
• Breast Cancer Screenings: Depending on family history, women should begin bi-yearly monograms by age 40
• Bone Mineral Density Tests: Women should being regular osteoporosis tests after age 50
• Prostate Cancer Screenings: Men should begin regular prostate cancer screenings around age 45

6. Speak Up

Finally, be sure to mention any current symptoms or abnormalities that have become apparent to you since your last checkup. That includes physical and emotional changes. “Never let hesitation or embarrassment withhold anything that can benefit you in the long run,” said Smith. Physicians are trained to handle every kind of medical condition — even the most sensitive. Make the most of your trip!