When it comes to staying healthy, regular checkups and physicals should be a part of every man's routine. As you get older (over 40), yearly physicals are advised in order to catch serious ailments before they become problematic and can serve as reassurance of good health. There are no absolutes when it comes to what tests and procedures a doctor may perform. Much of what a doctor decides to do will be based on some initial tests and a question and answer period.
The Basics
When you go in for a physical, the first thing that the nurse or doctor will do is check your vitals. Things such as blood pressure, height, weight and age are common first steps in getting to know the patient.
Question and Answer
Once the initial vitals are recorded the doctor is going to want to find out more about you. He's going to ask you how you're feeling, if you have anything strange going on or any concerns about your health. Doctors do this because of a couple of reasons. If you're not a regular to getting physicals the doctor will assume that there is a motivating cause for your visit and thus they will try to extract the information up front. Doctors know that no one knows your body like you do and so it only makes sense to go to the source.
Blood Tests
Getting blood work is not a necessity when you get a physical but it's something that your doctor might recommend. Blood work can uncover a number of things. Cholesterol, blood cell counts, thyroid function and STDs are just a few of the many tales your blood can tell about you. And, if in the right hands, taking blood doesn't have to be a painful experience.
Checking Your Heart
One thing no doctor overlooks is the importance of your heart. Obviously blood work can give them an indication of factors like cholesterol but nothing is as valuable for on the spot information as a quick listen with the stethoscope.
The Dreaded Prostate
It's a fair assumption that the prospects of a prostate exam have scared off more than its share of men from getting a physical. This is literally the one thing that separates the sexes when it comes to physicals. Prostates can be done through imaging technology but most physicians still prefer to use the faster and less expensive method: sticking their gloved finger up the patient's rectum. Prostate health in males should be more prominently monitored once they are over 40.
