Physical exam what kind of doctor

This may include questions about your job and relationships, medications, allergies, supplements, or any recent surgeries. This includes taking a blood pressure reading and checking your heart rate and respiratory rate. Your blood pressure should be checked at least once every year to once every three years, depending on your history.

Your doctor will review your appearance for signs of any potential conditions. This includes examining the following:. As the physical exam continues, the doctor will use tools to look in your eyes, ears, nose, and throat. This exam also includes:. To complete the physical, your doctor may draw blood for several laboratory tests. These can include a complete blood count and a complete metabolic panel also called a chemistry panel. The panel tests your blood plasma and can indicate any issues that exist in your kidneys, liver, blood chemistry, and immune system.

This helps detect irregularities in your body that might indicate a larger problem. Your doctor may request a diabetes screen and a thyroid screen. If you have an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, or stroke, they may also request a lipid panel cholesterol test. In this type of exam, your doctor may only look at a certain part of your body to confirm their suspected diagnosis.

When additional screenings or imaging tests are recommended, they may be completed at an imaging center or hospital. Most portions of a physical exam carry no risks. Some mild discomfort and pain might occur during a blood test when the needle is inserted into the vein for blood withdrawal.

This bruise should heal in a few days. Some abnormal test results may cause unnecessary worry. Talk to your doctor about the best interval for your routine health exam. Your doctor may request a return visit to discuss test results or follow up on any exam findings. The physical exam is a chance for a frank discussion about health, habits, and your future. And if you need more specialized care for a health condition, a primary care doctor can expertly guide your next steps and connect you with the right specialist.

All of these doctors are expertly trained to treat a broad range of health conditions. But every type of primary care doctor has a different background and focus. Some treat patients of all ages, others specialize in the care of women, seniors or children.

What is an internal medicine doctor, you ask? Internal medicine doctors are different from other primary care doctors because they only care for adults. These doctors, also called internists, are trained to treat both simple and complex conditions from early adulthood through old age. They are well versed in conditions that can pop up in adulthood, like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Pediatricians specialize in caring for children, from birth through early adulthood. Their area of focus overlaps with family medicine doctors — who also see children from babies to young adults.

Pediatricians are also experienced in talking with children and helping them feel comfortable — a big plus if your child is shy or scared of going to the doctor. The unique benefit of family doctors is that they care for your whole family. They see babies, children, parents and grandparents. No matter who in your family is sick, you have one person to call who knows your family history and can provide highly personalized care. Because they treat a variety of patients, family doctors have a wide range of experience.

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