Today’s personal and professional calendars are more packed than ever, so scheduling a doctor’s appointment even when you’re sick feels like a huge sacrifice you can’t afford. This means keeping up with your once-a-year well visits is even harder to justify. Unfortunately, that line of thinking may end up costing you much more time, money, and suffering than a simple annual physical.
At Four Peaks Internal Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Fayz Yar Khan and our team understand your dilemma, which is why we’re here to drive home the importance of your annual physical and to make getting yours as quick and hassle-free as possible.
Setting your health markers
When you come to us with symptoms that suggest something may be wrong, we start running diagnostic tests to find out what’s going on in your body. But without knowing what’s normal for you when you’re healthy, it’s hard to know the severity of your symptoms.
Your annual physical allows us to get to know you and your body when it’s healthy and functioning well. We establish key measurements from blood pressure and heart rate to height and weight, blood levels, urine contents, and body temperature.
Not only does this give us some concrete health markers for valuable comparison should you get sick, but it also helps us detect anomalies that alert us to certain conditions even before you feel symptoms. In essence, annual physicals can help you prevent serious illnesses before they take hold.
Screening tests
Hand in hand with establishing your health baseline, screenings are the most important tools in preventive medicine. While screenings aren’t available for every type of illness, we can screen you for some of the most serious diseases, including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Some cancers
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Osteoporosis
Because all of these conditions are highly treatable if caught early, your annual physical could mean the difference between a short-term treatment and a few lifestyle changes, or a lifetime of dealing with the symptoms of a chronic disease.
Hormone evaluation
Your hormones regulate all of your bodily functions, so when they’re out of whack, so is your body. Some hormone fluctuations are expected, such as during puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and old age, but if you have an unexplained hormone imbalance, it can cause a chain reaction of symptoms.
Dr. Yar Khan can detect any abnormal hormone levels, get to the root cause of it, and level out your hormone production again.
Immunizations
If you want to avoid more doctor visits, take advantage of your annual physical to make sure you’re up to date on all your vaccines. Even if you got all your shots as a child, you may still need boosters for some of them as an adult or new ones you never got as a child, including:
- Shingles
- Pneumonia
- Tdap
- Flu
- Hepatitis A and B
- HPV
- COVID-19
Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to these preventable conditions. Dr. Yar Khan can evaluate your immunization records and administer all the shots you need to stay healthy.
Specialized annual physicals
Annual physicals are recommended for all adults, but there are circumstances where a more targeted approach is warranted.
Sports physicals
If you’re an athlete or have a child about to sign up for summer sports, Dr. Yar Khan performs a sports physical to ensure they are healthy and fit enough to participate. Most schools and many organizations require proof of a professional sports physical before you can enter the program. Bring all your paperwork to Dr. Yar Khan so he can conduct a thorough, sport-specific exam.
Women’s health care
Women’s reproductive systems require specialized attention, which is why we offer annual women’s health exams. During this physical, Dr. Yar Khan and a female member of our team check for early signs of common health problems, such as urinary tract infections, certain cancers, and other issues.
Typical tests include a breast exam, pelvic exam, and Pap smear, but if you’re experiencing specific symptoms, Dr. Yar Khan may perform other tests as well.
To schedule an annual physical and give yourself the best chance at avoiding major health issues, call us at 602-357-8349 or book an appointment online today.
