Medical Check-Up

A medical check-up, otherwise known as a comprehensive physical exam, is an important preventive and diagnostic tool. Our primary care physicians recommend that our patients come in once a year for a medical check-up to ensure their health is on track. This annual medical exam gives us an opportunity to closely monitor your health and assist with the prevention of disease and illness.

What is an Annual Physical Exam?
The actual components of your annual physical exam will vary depending on your age and gender. Some common aspects included in a routine medical check-up are outlined here.

Health Review: For most patients, a physical exam will begin with an age-appropriate discussion of your overall health. This provides us with an opportunity to discuss your medical history and any risk factors based on family history or pre-existing conditions.

Immunization Check: We'll also review your immunization records to ensure you aren't due for any vaccinations such as tetanus, influenza, pneumonia or hepatitis A/B. We can administer any necessary vaccines right in our office. 

Routine Blood Work: We can do blood tests to see if you are anemic or to see if you have certain diseases such as liver disease. In addition, simple blood tests can check your vitamin levels to see if you may have any deficiencies that can be quickly adjusted with diet or supplements. Depending on your age or risk factors, we may also elect to perform a cholesterol test. 

Vital Signs: This is one of the most basic functions of an annual physical exam, but can help identify a number of potential health problems. We'll check your blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, and listen to your heart and lungs. 

Skin Check: A routine review of your skin including moles, birthmarks or freckles can help identify any areas that may be cause for concern. When performed annually, this medical exam can significantly reduce your risk for developing skin cancer. 

Additional Tests: Depending on your age, gender or medical history, our providers may elect to order additional medical exams such as bone density screening, mammography, colon or prostate cancer screenings. In most cases, our medical partners located throughout our system can assist with these screenings for your convenience.

Benefits of a Medical Check-Up
Getting a routine medical check-up is important for everyone, particularly those with chronic health problems, a complicated health history or a genetic predisposition to certain conditions. Regardless, no matter your age, gender or medical history, it's a great idea to get a routine physical exam once a year.

There are many benefits that come from getting a regular annual medical exam. Prevention and the early detection of potential health problems is the most significant benefit. Others include peace of mind and a more comprehensive health history that can help you make informed health decisions throughout your lifetime.

Taking good care of your body before disease, illness or injury strike is a great way to stay healthy. We focus a great deal of our efforts on wellness care and preventive medicine in the best interest of our patients and their families.

Preventive Medicine: Important Considerations and Techniques

Family History:
While many health conditions cannot be prevented, understanding your risks and genetic predisposition as it relates to specific conditions is extremely important. Our providers will work hard to understand your family's medical history as an indicator of potential problems that may arise. Common conditions impacted by family history include: heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and certain cancers, among others.

Physical Exams:
Keeping your health in check with an annual physical exam can help prevent disease. Learn more about comprehensive physical exams by calling one of our locations.

Weight Management: Since being overweight is associated with numerous health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and certain cancers, many of our patients are interested in weight management as a preventive care technique. Our preventive medicine physicians can assist patients in meeting their weight-loss goals through better nutrition, exercise and constant motivation. As needed, we can prescribe medical therapies or provide referrals for medically necessary weight management programs or procedures. 

Exercise Programs: Even for our healthiest patients, our team recommends exercise as an extremely effective type of preventive care. Regular exercise can help protect your heart and lungs, and can build muscles to keep your body strong. Exercising daily can also help fight chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and others. We can help you get started on an effective exercise regimen for better health. 

Nutrition Counseling: Ensuring our patients are getting the nutrients they need through food and supplements (as needed) is an integral part of our approach to preventive medicine. Our preventive medicine physicians can help patients understand the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and its impact on your long-term health and well-being. 

Stress Management: Reducing stress and anxiety can also be an effective type of preventive care, particularly since stress can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and other health problems. We can help patients identify stressors and help develop strategies to reduce stress through a combination of methods.

Working closely with our patients, our providers can help keep you in the best health through a combination of wellness and preventive care programs.

Women's health services include caring ffor the individual healthcare needs of women-from wellness and preventive care to treatment for medical conditions that are specific to women.

We provide a wide variety of medical services for women, ranging from traditional gynecological exams and services to the treatment of a broad spectrum of women's health problems.

Gynecology Services

All of our providers offer women's health services and can help our female patients maintain optimal health. Below are some of the services we provide specifically to women.

Women's Wellness

Women have different medical needs from other patients. Our women's health specialists work closely with female patients to review their medical history and risk factors as it relates to conditions such as breast cancer, heart disease, cervical or ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and other conditions that impact many women.

We also perform routine blood tests to ensure you do not have vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin D, calcium, folic acid and iron shortages-a common problem among women.

PAP Smear

This annual test can help reduce your risk for cervical cancer and other conditions that could become cancerous. In the event of an abnormal test result, our women's health specialists can provide expert advice on your best treatment options.

Breast Exam

Detecting an abnormal lump or mass in your breast before it becomes serious can help save your life. Our team of providers can perform this simple check once a year as part of your routine gynecological exam. We can also refer patients who need a mammogram to the nearby WakeMed North imaging services department.

Menopause

Our providers can diagnose menopause and work with you to evaluate treatment options as needed. Our women's health specialists can discuss the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy or alternative therapies, depending on patient preference.

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Our healthcare providers can assist women who experience abnormal periods, such as heavy bleeding or irregular frequency, through diagnosis and a variety of treatment options.

Contraception

With the number of contraception medications and devices available, making a decision can be overwhelming. Our physicians can help you understand the benefits and risks associated with each type of treatment and what may work best for your lifestyle. We can also help adjust medications and dosages as needed.

Female Infections (bladder, pelvic)

Early treatment for any infection is very important and can even help prevent infertility and other gynecological problems. If you have a history of either frequent urinary tract infections or pelvic inflammatory disease, our providers can help ensure you get the gynecological treatment you need quickly to clear up these conditions.

Our providers bring years of experience in women's health services and gynecology. We are proud to care for women of all ages and stages of life.