The Importance of Annual Physicals

You may have heard annual physicals are important, even necessary, to your health. But, unfortunately, many Americans fail to get them consistently. In fact, in 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found only 83.4% of Americans even saw their doctors in the last year.

Making sure you visit your provider when you’re sick and you receive your annual physical are twin pillars that help you stay healthy. But why do you need physicals once a year, and what makes them so important?

Injury and Health Urgent Care offers physical exams as well as plenty of other urgent and regular care visits for patients of all ages. Our providers — Melissa Kempf, MD, and Shannon Wait, DNP, APRN, FNP-C — want you to know the importance of this yearly checkup and to consistently make appointments. 

Annual physicals 101 

First, what’s a physical? Is it the same as a wellness exam, a routine doctor’s visit, or a well woman exam? 

Well, yes and no. Though these visits may be similar, they all have their specific routines that make them stand out. Your provider has to follow certain protocols so your annual physical is counted as one. This ensures the visit will be covered by your insurance plan or fall under a certain cost bracket.

A physical is a general check of your overall health. Certain markers like breathing, vision, hearing, reflexes, and more are tested. Your blood pressure and heart rate are also taken along with your temperature. When all of this is done, your provider has a good picture of your health and is able to log this in your medical records. 

If you’re young or you haven’t noticed any issues with these functions, a physical might seem unnecessary, even pointless. But the truth is, everyone needs a physical each year for a number of reasons. 

What annual physicals do

Here are some advantages you gain by sticking to your annual physical:

Keep your medical records up to date

Annual physicals provide your physician with a clearer, updated picture of your physical health. If you wait too long between physicals, it can be harder to create this consistent picture. This could lead to problems down the road.

Allow you to ask questions 

Many people have questions for their doctor but let them fall by the wayside in their busy, day-to-day lives. But scheduling an annual exam will force you to see your doctor. Some people make a list of questions to ask at their annual physical, such as “Should I try this new supplement?” or “What’s the best exercise for strength training?” 

Knowing you’re going to see your doctor soon reminds you to ask questions they should answer. It keeps you connected to a wealth of information about your health, and health in general, on which you might otherwise miss out.

Uncover illness and other issues 

One major part of your yearly exam is to screen for diseases and assess any major health concerns on the horizon. For example, if you smoke, have a maintenance-based illness like high blood pressure, or have certain risk factors, your provider can check to make sure problems haven’t developed. They can also catch unseen issues much earlier.

Foster relationships between patients and providers

If you only visit your doctor every few years or when you’re sick, they might not be as comfortable with your medical history. What’s more, you might be less comfortable around them than if you had regular visits where the sky isn’t crashing down. 

Having this kind of consistent visitation allows you to build a rapport with your provider as well as an understanding for how they treat problems. And they, in turn, will be able to look at the full picture of your health — not to mention know you better as a person. 

Schedule an annual physical now

Most insurance plans cover a physical each year, and they can benefit you in so many ways. If you’re ready, now’s the perfect time to schedule yours. 

Just call our San Antonio, Texas, office at 210-879-3521, or make an appointment online. You’ll be glad you did.