Annual Physicals

Annual physicals are essential for maintaining optimal health. At Stone Creek Family Medicine in Montgomery, Texas, Jeremy McWilliams, DO, Ginger McMillian, FNP-C, Courtney Groves, FNP-C, and the team offer annual physicals to individuals and families. Routine checkups can alert you to underlying health problems and help you age more gracefully. Call Stone Creek Family Medicine today to schedule an annual physical.

I feel healthy. Is an annual physical necessary?

Yes. Schedule a physical exam annually at Stone Creek Family Medicine, whether you feel healthy or not. 

Many chronic illnesses, including high cholesterol and cancer, develop slowly and present few obvious symptoms. Regular checkups and laboratory testing can identify these and other problems when they respond best to treatment.

What do annual physicals involve?

At Stone Creek Family Medicine, annual physicals involve the following steps:

Review health history

Your provider asks about your lifestyle, including how often you exercise and if you use tobacco or drink alcohol. Let them know about any changes in your health or concerns you have. 

Answer your provider’s questions honestly. They aren’t there to judge you, but your answers help guide treatment.

Head-to-toe exam

Your Stone Creek Family Medicine provider completes a physical exam.

They listen to your heart and respiratory rate, look at your skin, and check for swelling in your extremities. Your provider feels your lymph nodes, checks your mouth and ears, and gently presses your abdomen to assess the size and location of your internal organs.

Sex-specific preventive screenings

Next, your provider completes sex-specific preventive screenings, like a Pap smear and breast exam or a prostate exam. These tests try to catch cervical, breast, or prostate cancer when they respond best to treatment.

Lab tests

Lab tests analyze samples of blood, urine, or saliva to gain insights into your health. The Stone Creek Family Medicine team uses lab tests to diagnose and monitor various medical issues, including high cholesterol, hormone imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies.

Immunizations

Immunizations, or vaccines, teach your immune system to defend against viruses and bacteria. The Stone Creek Family Medicine team regularly develops personalized immunization schedules based on your personal history and likely exposure.

Are there different types of annual physicals?

The Stone Creek Family Medicine team offers both annual and sports physicals.

A sports physical is similar to an annual physical. The difference is that it focuses on your fitness. Many sports leagues and organized athletic associations require participants to undergo physicals before the start of seasonal competition. 

Your provider can make recommendations to prevent injury and enhance your performance on the court, track, or field.

Call Stone Creek Family Medicine today to schedule an annual physical.