Why Do I Need an Annual Physical?

There's three primary objectives of an annual physical exam. The first is to review everything new, different, interesting or exciting that's happened in your medical life or your health history in the past year, and that will include any changes in your family history, any changes in your personal symptoms, any changes in diseases, disorders or conditions that you currently have, and are managing, any changes in your medication, and any concerns that you may have.

The second objective is to review all of your medications with your doctor and the third is to raise any health questions that you may have, that may have come from new findings in your physical exam, new findings in screening tests or any diagnostic tests that your doctor may want to order as a result of all of the above.