The 4 most important things to expect from your next physical

Here’s the truth: most of what you know about the annual physical is wrong. A physical matters in ways you may not expect and knowing what to ask and what’s important can make a big difference in your health.

So regardless of what you’ve been told, here is what really matters and what you should expect from your physical:

Most of the physical isn’t actually physical.

In fact, the non-physical parts matter just as much, if not more in some cases. The list of must-check physical issues is actually pretty short: blood pressure, weight, height, cholesterol, and maybe a blood sugar test depending on your specific risk factors or family history. That hammer reflex thing? Utterly useless if you aren’t having unusual or new symptoms.  And the eyes/ears/nose/throat/neck/belly check? They provide little value in determining your overall health status.

No, you don’t need all those blood tests.

It’s true that your provider may order some blood tests, but more testing is not always better. You may be asking, “what’s the harm?” Well, the harm can be pretty significant, actually. The truth is most of the tests available aren’t 100 percent accurate. That means the possibility of a false positive can be a major problem. It’s crucial to understand that you don’t need every blood test under the sun to prove your healthy status.

What matters most is what’s important for your health.

We do have certain guidelines that recommend what we should cover during the physical, but a good provider is one that tailors those parameters to you and your health goals. Building a trusting relationship with a primary care provider who knows you well is possibly the biggest benefit of the time spent in an annual physical. Ideally, you want this relationship to be a long-term one. Even if you don’t see this person often, you want to make sure he or she is someone you trust, who listens to you, and with whom you feel comfortable collaborating.

Cancer screening, cardiovascular risk assessment and immunizations are musts.

These parts of the physical are the high-value items, but many people are surprised to find they don’t necessarily have to be annual. For most women getting a mammogram every other year is fine and despite what many men believe, prostate screening may not even be something they need at all. Once you’ve built that trusting relationship with your provider, they will help guide your choices and keep you up to date on all the important stuff.

Whether you haven’t been to a doctor in years or you’re ready to establish a relationship with a provider, be sure the care you’re getting is customized to fit your needs. Your actual health is more important than checked boxes or outdated guidelines.

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