Physicals

If you’re feeling healthy, a yearly physical can help ensure you stay that way. ​​Khaula Raza, AGPC, NP, and the team at AZ Health and Wellness Clinic offer comprehensive annual physicals and sports physicals that include a thorough evaluation to make sure everything in your body is running just as it should. A physical catches underlying conditions before they become serious and helps you prevent them from arising in the first place. Call the Houston, Texas office. You can also book an appointment online to schedule your exam today.

Why are physical exams important?

A regular physical helps you avoid many common health problems. Oftentimes, serious conditions – including high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes – have no outward symptoms. You only know you have them by coming in for a regular check-up and screening tests.

Regular physicals also help the team at AZ Health and Wellness Clinic get to know you so they understand your health patterns and can spot changes in your physical and mental wellness early. They’ll help you stay on top of important screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, as well as routine blood work. These screenings ensure that what you’re feeling on the outside is reflected by your bodily systems and that if you have an underlying health problem, it gets treated right away.

Your AZ Health and Wellness Clinic provider also offers recommendations about diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors to keep you as healthy as possible.

Some individuals will need to complete a sports physical, as mandated by their coach, school, or league, to ensure that they’re healthy enough to compete in a particular sport. During your sports physical, your AZ Health and Wellness Clinic provider asks questions about your medical history and gives you physical tests to ensure you can endure the required physical activity.

What should I expect during a physical?

Your provider at AZ Health and Wellness Clinic thoroughly reviews your medical history. They’ll defer to you and ask if you have any questions or want to mention any concerns you may have about your health. 

You’ll answer questions about lifestyle choices, such as alcohol consumption, exercise habits, and smoking. The team will also obtain important vital signs, including:

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Temperature
• Respiration rate

Your provider examines all of your major systems, inspecting your ears, nose, and throat, and checking your heart, lungs, thyroid, muscle tone, and reflexes. They review your immunizations and bring you up to date to prevent unnecessary illness.

Depending on your health status, symptoms, existing conditions, and personal concerns, your provider may recommend additional tests, such as ultrasound screenings, blood tests, or X-rays.

If you’re coming to AZ Health and Wellness Clinic for a sports physical, your provider also completes the requisite paperwork. 

What screening tests are part of a physical exam?

Your AZ Health and Wellness Clinic provider usually orders standard blood work, cholesterol tests, and blood sugar (glucose) evaluations to get an understanding of your internal health. After age 40, mammograms are recommended for women, and after age 50, colonoscopies are a valuable way to evaluate colon health for both sexes. If you have a personal or family history of colon or breast cancer, your provider may recommend you have these screenings.

If you’re ready to schedule your essential physical exam, call the AZ Health and Wellness Clinic office or schedule an appointment online today.