What is a full physical?
Matthew G. Beckwith, MD
The purpose of a full physical is to find problems which we don't
already know about. As a result of a full physical, the doctor often
discovers new problems. Some of these problems can have far-reaching
implications for the patient's health. Therefore, it is important to get
periodic physical examinations.
There are 4 parts to a full physical:
- Past History: The doctor goes over your past medical
history with you, to make sure the chart is up-to-date. If
any new problems have been identified or addressed by other
doctors, this is the time for you to tell your doctor about
them.
- Review of Symptoms: A list of symptoms is presented
to you beforehand. You go down this list, circling any symptoms
which you have had in the last 6 months. This is the most
important part of a full physical, because this is where we find
out whether there are any problems of which your doctor was not
previously aware.
- The Physical Exam: The doctor then examines you.
This examination should be fairly complete. It may or may not
include the following:
- A rectal exam is usually performed on men over the
age of 50 (40 for black men), because this is how
the prostate is examined. Women don't have prostates,
so a rectal exam is not necessary for women.
- Preventive Medicine: The doctor may recommend
certain actions or tests, depending on your risk factors for
certain diseases. Following are some examples.
- Cholesterol check. This is a blood test performed
periodically on all adults. High cholesterol can
cause heart disease, so this is a way of preventing
heart disease.
- Colonoscopy. This is the passage of an instrument
called an endoscope into the rectum and colon to check
for colon cancer. It is performed at least every 10
years on all people over the age of 50. If your family
doctor decides you need a colonoscopy, a referral is
made to a gastroenterologist or a surgeon.
- Immunizations. These are injections to prevent
such diseases as pneumonia, tetanus and the flu.
It is important to understand that all portions of the full
physical are optional. For example, it's perfectly okay for you
to come for a full physical but decline the prostate exam,
or the colonoscopy, or an immunization.
The full physical is a time to identify problems.
The problems identified during the general physical visit may or
may not be addressed during this visit. The reason for this is
that a full physical takes a lot of time, and other patients are
waiting to be seen. Thus, if you have particular problems that
you need addressed right away, it is recommended that you make a
separate appointment for these, in addition to the appointment
for the full physical. If any new problems are discovered
during the physical, a follow-up appointment will be made to
address them.
Periodic full physicals are absolutely recommended for any
patient who wants to live a long and healthy life.
