Why you need a physical

Summertime is a great time to get a physical. You probably already do this for your kids since they need them for summer camps, return to school, start college or for various sports activities. But what about you? Many adults do not seem to realize that they also need an annual physical. Adults often ask me why they need one or even "what is a physical exam?".

The purpose of getting an annual exam is simple: to make sure that you are healthy and to pick up anything that is wrong in enough of a timely fashion to be able to correct it i.e before it kills you.

Sometimes people say "but I feel fine" that's a good thing, the goal is to keep it that way. Sometimes I think patient's are disappointed when nothing is wrong almost as if their physical was not needed. At which point I point out that they should be happy; they have done what they are supposed to do for themselves and their families and they have reason to smile!

I would like to give you examples of a few real patients who have saved or prolonged their lives by getting a physical when they were not aware that anything was wrong.

A 45 year old female patient was found to have a cancer on one of her kidneys, it was taken out and now more than 10 years later she still shows up for her annual physical. She is doing fine.

A gentleman in his mid seventies started to come to me to control his blood pressure and I suggested he have a physical. The protein in his urine tipped me off and a renal ultrasound showed that he too had kidney cancer and it was just beginning to spread. Fortunately he is  also doing well now.

Several people of all ages have discovered that they are pre-Diabetic or even Diabetic while getting a physical. Women are often unaware that their thyroid gland is under active and one male patient was discovered to have thyroid cancer.

A gentleman in his late 50's was found to have bone cancer, another skin cancer and one patient was not even aware of how bad the hearing was in one ear because he didn't pay attention to it.

Oftentimes patients will casually mention a symptom which ends up being a major problem yet they have had it for years.

If you are planning to get any surgery or a colonoscopy you will need a physical.

We also update your shots when you come for a physical. You will be reminded what things you need to do for routine health maintenance such as mammograms, bone density, pap, colonoscopy etc and discuss your family history so you know what to look out for.

I could continue but I won't, I think you can see that a physical is a good idea for everyone so if you haven't had one in the past 12 months, please call for an appointment.

Be well, see you soon

Dr. Tuakli