Physicals

Physical exams enable you to stay ahead of developing health problems and ensure you’re fit to work or participate in sports. Board-certified family medicine physician Syed-Ghazanfar Naqvi, MD, at Advanced Medicine Clinics in McKinney, Texas, provides annual, school, and Department of Transport (DOT) physicals. Call Dr. Naqvi’s office to arrange your physical or schedule an appointment by completing the online booking form.

What are physicals?

Physicals are checkups Dr. Naqvi performs to evaluate your health. Annual physicals are vital to preventive care, helping you avoid serious health problems by identifying diseases early in their development and ensuring you reduce your risk of conditions, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• High cholesterol

Dr. Naqvi also offers physicals for specific purposes, including school physicals for children and DOT physicals for people whose job revolves around driving.

What do physicals involve?

Dr. Naqvi begins your physical by reviewing your medical history and checking any existing conditions. He asks you how you feel and if you’ve had any health problems, and you can discuss new symptoms or concerns. 

Next, Dr. Naqvi performs a thorough physical exam. He checks your vital signs and key health indicators, including your:

• Temperature
• Blood pressure
• Pulse and heart rate
• Respiration (breathing rate)
• Heart and lung sounds
• Physical reflexes

Dr. Naqvi then examines your skin, hair, and nails, which can reveal clues to underlying health issues. He observes your reactions, how well you walk, your balance, and any obvious problems with hearing or vision. He palpates (carefully feels) certain areas, such as the lymph nodes, liver, and thyroid gland, for abnormalities and assesses your joints.

You might require specific checks depending on your physiology, such as a pelvic exam if you have a uterus. Throughout your physical, Dr. Naqvi assesses your mental health and looks for signs of problems like depression or dementia.

Are tests part of physicals?

Blood and urine lab tests are standard for most physicals. They identify underlying problems like high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, infections, nutrition deficiencies, and inflammation.

Depending on what Dr. Naqvi finds during your physical and the results of your routine lab tests, you may undergo other procedures. For example, you might need X-rays if you have musculoskeletal pain or a thyroid hormone test if you have signs of thyroid disease.

Cancer screening tests sometimes form part of a physical. For instance, women might need a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer, and men might require a prostate exam to check for gland enlargement.

Call Advanced Medicine Clinics today to learn more, or use the online form to arrange your physical.