Physical exams assess your physical health. These exams come in several types, including routine wellness checkups, school physicals, employment physicals, and pre-participation sports physicals. 

A doctoral-prepared nurse practitioner, Dr. Banor is empathetic, compassionate, and a great listener. She really gets to know you through your physical exams, which allows her to effectively personalize all of your medical care at Pulse Healthcare Solutions.

Physical exams may vary depending on the purpose of your checkup, but generally they cover: 

• Vital signs check
• Eye, ear, nose, and throat evaluation
• Skin check
• Palpation of your abdomen
• Palpation of your organs
• Reflex check
• Listening to your lungs, heart, and bowels 

Physical exams aren’t only about hands-on physical evaluations. Dr. Banor generally conducts screening tests during physical exams. Blood and urine tests are a common way to check for conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Some tests may require a sputum (saliva and mucus) or stool sample. 

She may also recommend screening tests, such as mammograms, electrocardiograms (EKG), prostate cancer screening, or bone density testing, according to your sex, age group, and risk factors. 

Mental health screening is an important part of physical exams. Dr. Banor is a highly qualified psychiatric care specialist who evaluates symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other conditions and helps you plan treatment.

Most people also get their annual vaccinations, like those that prevent the flu, during physical exams.

Dr. Banor generally recommends annual physical exams for all ages. Information from your annual physical serves as a touchstone for comparing future exam results or illnesses.

You might also need a physical exam for work, school, or sports at some point. Those exams check certain specific areas but aren’t as comprehensive as an annual physical exam, so they add to — but don’t replace — your yearly physical. If you have chronic conditions, you could need physical exams more often. 

If you have new symptoms and need a checkup, or you’re overdue for your yearly physical exam, Pulse Healthcare Solutions is here for you. Schedule your appointment online or call the office for help today.