What Constitutes a Physical Exam?
There are no set guidelines for the physical examination, but, for Dr. Perez, it's a combination of observation and listening. They generally start with a brief history for each patient. If you are returning to SunCoast Premier Medical, Dr. Perez will have records to refer to and will just update his notes to ensure everything is current.
New patients need to provide a more extensive history, though. It will include not just your personal medical history but that of your family, as well. A comprehensive history allows Dr. Perez to get a sense of the risk categories and screening tests needed to ensure optimal health.
The physical part of the physical exam will include:
- Vital signs
- Heart exam
- Lung exam
- Head and neck exam
- Abdominal exam
Dr. Perez will discuss daily habits with each patient, as well, looking for problems -- behaviors like smoking or alcohol use. Each exam will likely include a gender-specific physical, as well.
What Does the Exam for Men Include?
For men, an annual physical will include the basics plus:
- Testicular exam
- Hernia exam
- Penis exam
- Prostate exam
This allows Dr. Perez to screen men under his care for diseases and conditions that affect them, such as prostate enlargement or testicular cancer.
What Does a Woman's Exam Include?
For the women who come to SunCoast Premier Medical, a physical is likely to include a breast and pelvic exam. Dr. Perez will take specimens and order routine testing such as a Pap smear and HPV test to screen for cervical cancer. Just as with the men, gender-specific exams allow him to check for conditions that usually affect women.
Will There Be Lab Tests?
Certain lab tests are usually part of a physical exam, but they rarely involve more than one blood draw. Dr. Perez or a member of his staff will take blood and send it to the lab for:
- CBC
- Chemistry panel
- Lipid panel
- Diabetes testing
Not all tests are done for every patient or every physical, but these are very common tests and are generally used to rule out conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol.
