Health Checkup (original) (raw)

Also called: Annual checkup, Annual physical examination, Routine physical examination

On this page

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Health Check Tools
• Test Your Knowledge

Research

• Journal Articles

Summary

Regular checkups with your health care provider are different from appointments for sickness or injury. These checkups include physical exams as well as preventive care. Preventative care may include:

• Screening tests, which are medical tests to check for diseases early, when they may be easier to treat. Which screenings you need will depend on your:
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Overall health
  • Family health history
  • Risks for certain diseases
• Vaccines, which can improve your health by preventing diseases and other health problems.
• Education and counseling to help you make informed health decisions. This could include advice about your lifestyle, including your diet, how much exercise you get, and any alcohol, tobacco, or other substances you may be using.

To make the most of your next check-up, here are some things to do before you go:

• Review your family health history
• Find out if you are due for any general screenings or vaccines
• Make and bring a list of issues and questions you would like to talk about with your provider
• Make and bring a list of any medicines, vitamins, supplements that you take

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Are You Up to Date on Your Preventive Care? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Preventive Services for Healthy Living (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

• Pulse Oximetry (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

• QuestionBuilder App (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) Also in Spanish

• Women's Health Checkup: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

• Preventive Visit and Yearly Wellness Exams (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish