A temperature of 96 degrees F doesn't necessarily mean you're sick. Some people's temperatures just run a bit lower (without any additional symptoms).
Health Screening & Wellness
They always say the best defense is a good offense and that goes double for your health. When it comes to staying healthy, prevention is key. And that means talking to your health care provider about health tests. Being informed and aware of your body, even when it's healthy, is one of the easiest ways to actively participate in managing your health. Just be careful not to go overboard. Fear-based decisions only exacerbate undiagnosed health issues.
Recently Answered
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3 AnswersA
RealAge answeredSee All 3 AnswersA physical exam is an assessment of how healthy your body is currently, and a means of determining what might be causing any symptoms you are having and what medical problems you might be at risk for in the future. Physical exams might be done as part of a requirement for a new job or participation in organized sports, to monitor an ongoing medical problem you are having, or as part of a wellness check to get a status report on your current health. Physical exams are also an important way for pediatricians and other doctors to determine if a child is growing and developing normally.
A physical exam typically begins with a conversation between you and your healthcare provider, during which you explain why you are there and symptoms or concerns about your health that you have. You may share your family and personal medical history. To prepare for a physical exam it helps to bring with you medications (including nonprescription medicines and supplements) that you are taking, a list of symptoms (including when and under what circumstances they occur) and a list of questions you want to ask.
The information you share may help direct the physical exam. For example, if you are experiencing a rash, your doctor may pay particular attention to your skin. If your eyes are bothering you, your doctor may take extra time examining your eyes. In general, in a complete physical exam your doctor may:
- take your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse
- use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs
- look in your eyes
- look in your ears, nose and throat
- check the color and appearance of your skin, hair and nails
- check your reflexes
- feel your abdomen
- do a pelvic and breast exam (in women)
- check for signs of prostate and testicular cancer (in men)
Your doctor may also order lab tests to be done to examine your blood and/or urine for signs of disease or infection. In addition, a physical exam is a good time for your doctor to discuss your lifestyle and ways to improve your health habits if you need to and to update your vaccines if necessary to prevent disease.
Having physical exams regularly is also a way to establish an ongoing relationship with your doctor so that when health problems arise, your doctor can build on what he or she already knows about your health to provide the best treatment possible.
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Lee's Summit Medical Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersYou need screening tests even if you don’t feel sick because most people do not feel poorly when they have some of the more serious health conditions. For example, unless it's extremely high, most people do not feel badly when they have high blood pressure. If they aren’t having routine screenings, such as a basic annual physical, their first indication of high blood pressure may be at a critical moment when they start having symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Another example is diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health, one-third of all diabetics in the United States do not know they have the disease. Patients can go for years without “feeling” it, but that certainly doesn’t mean that their bodies, specifically eyes/nerves/kidneys/blood vessels, aren’t accruing damage. Long-term, uncontrolled diabetes can increase risk for heart attacks, strokes, blindness, and amputations.
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Lee's Summit Medical Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
The following are health screening tests that people age 40 and older need. Depending on a person's risk factors, some of these health screening tests may be indicated sooner than age 40.
- Basic blood work should include diabetes screen with a fasting glucose (blood sugar) level and cholesterol screen. Depending on the person’s circumstances/risk factors, his or her doctor may recommend other screening blood work as well.
- For women, pelvic exams/Pap smears/mammograms are recommended on regular intervals. Some of these recommendations start at age 21. Screening for breast cancer may start sooner than 40 for those with risk factors such as family history.
- Colon cancer screening is recommended starting at age 50, usually with colonoscopies.
Again, these tests may be indicated sooner if symptoms or risk factors exist.
There are several other recommendations for screening that may be important for a person individually. Overall, the big take home message is that people should see their primary care doctor on a regular basis every 1 to 2 years to discuss these, and make a plan together to make sure they remain at their healthiest for years to come.
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Mercy Health answeredSee All 3 AnswersAccording to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular exams and screenings can help save lives. They can help find problems early, when the chances for treatment, and perhaps even a cure, are better.
Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider.
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1 AnswerA
The most common reason to check an oral temperature is to detect a fever or an elevation of body temperature. Sometime, women will check an oral temperture, using a special thermometer, first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, as part of a fertility awareness program. -
1 AnswerA
An axillary temperature is a non-invasive mode of measuring body temperature. An axillary temperature is measured in persons who are unable to cooperate in the measurement of an oral temperature. For example, infants or young children who are unable to follow directions to hold the thermometer in their mouth. It also may be used for individuals who have experienced trauma or surgery to the mouth. Another indication for an axillary temperature is a person receiving oxygen via a facemask or individuals who are mouth breathers.
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1 AnswerA
An axillary temperature is measured in the axilla or armpit area. It is recommended to use a digital thermometer when taking an axillary temperature. To take an axillary temperature:
- Remove any clothing on the arm being used.
- Raise the patient’s arm.
- Make sure the underarm area is dry. If the individual has visible deodorant, powder or lotion in the area, it needs to be removed with a dry cloth.
- Turn on the thermometer and put a protective cover on the tip
- Place the thermometer under the arm with the tip of the thermometer positioned in the pit of the axilla.
- Bring the arm next to the body.
- Hold the thermometer in place until the sound signals it is finished.
- Remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
- Clean the thermometer before putting it away.
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1 AnswerA
An oral temperature is the body temperature as recorded by a clinical thermometer placed in the mouth. Normal adult body temperature, as measured orally, is 98.6° F (37° C). Oral temperatures ranging from 96.5° F to 99° F and may vary depending on the person's physical activity, the environmental temperature, and that person's usual body temperature.