It is one of the most common things we hear at Pinnacle Family Medicine: "I feel fine, so I skipped my physical this year." We understand the logic, but it misses the entire point of preventive care. An annual wellness exam is not about treating what hurts today — it is about finding what could hurt you tomorrow.
What Happens During a Wellness Exam
Your annual physical is a comprehensive look at your overall health. Your provider will check your blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and BMI. You will discuss your diet, exercise habits, sleep quality, stress levels, and any medications you take. Lab work is ordered based on your age, gender, family history, and risk factors — typically a complete blood count, metabolic panel, lipid panel, and A1C if warranted.
But the most valuable part of the visit is the conversation. This is your chance to bring up anything you have been wondering about. That knee pain you have been ignoring. The fatigue that started a few months ago. The family history of colon cancer you forgot to mention. These conversations lead to early detection, and early detection saves lives.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Studies consistently show that patients who maintain regular wellness visits have lower rates of uncontrolled hypertension, undiagnosed diabetes, and late-stage cancer diagnoses. A 2023 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that adults who completed annual physicals were 30 percent more likely to have their chronic conditions well-controlled compared to those who did not.
What If Nothing Is Wrong?
Then you leave with peace of mind and a baseline to compare against in future years. Knowing your normal cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure values makes it much easier to spot a problem when one eventually develops. Think of it as establishing your personal health fingerprint.
Schedule Your Visit
If it has been more than 12 months since your last wellness exam, call our office or book online through the patient portal. Most insurance plans cover annual physicals at 100 percent with no copay. It is one hour that could add years to your life.