A regular physical exam is an integral part of maintaining your overall physical health.  It helps your primary care physician (PCP) determine your general health status.  This is a prime opportunity for patients to talk to their doctor about any health concerns they may have.  It is recommended that patients see their health care provider at least once a year for a physical exam or wellness check.  This is a more comprehensive visit than going just when feeling ill.  Some people have recently postponed these physical exams due to concerns about COVID-19.  However, these exams are too important to put off, and the doctor’s office will ensure that patients can safely visit.

Your healthcare provider may want to perform specific tests during the visit.  These may include listening to your heart to look for any abnormal heart rhythms or other irregularities.  They may listen to your breathing to make sure there are no problems with the lungs.  The doctor will also listen for sounds in the abdomen to check for issues with the bowel and intestines.  Weight, pulse, and blood pressure will be checked.  A urinalysis may be ordered.

Routine blood work may be performed to check cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, hemoglobin, and other levels.  Periodic blood work may be required if the patient is taking some prescription medications.  A basic metabolic panel helps the doctor determine whether certain organs in the body are functioning correctly.  Abnormal levels in the blood work may be an indication of diabetes, liver problems, kidney disease, or cancer.  Medications may be prescribed or modified, depending on the results of the blood work.

An annual physical is the time for the doctor to make sure vaccinations are up to date.  Vaccinations are important for protecting children from disease, but adults may also need a booster shot.  The CDC recommends that older adults receive vaccinations for flu, shingles, pneumonia, and pertussis (whooping cough).

A physical exam appointment helps patients determine whether they have been effectively managing any chronic health conditions.  This is the perfect time to ask questions and raise any concerns regarding their health or medications.  The doctor can advise on any lifestyle changes that need to be made in the areas of diet, exercise, alcohol use, and smoking.

Don’t put off that regular physical exam.  Make an appointment today at RMD Primary Care.  Call 678-430-3627 to schedule an appointment or for questions.

Osteoporosis is a disease affecting approximately 10 million Americans.  The disease causes the loss of minerals from the bones, leaving them vulnerable to fractures.  Osteoporosis is more common as we age, because new bone is not being made as quickly as old bone is breaking down.  Although both men and women can develop the disease, it is more common in women.

There are no early symptoms of osteoporosis, so it is sometimes called the silent disease.  Many people do not realize they have bone loss until they experience a fracture.  Later symptoms of osteoporosis include loss of height, a stooped posture, back pain, and bone breakage.  The most frequent fractures occur in the hips, wrist, and spine.

Risk factors for osteoporosis include age, having a smaller frame, family history, white or Asian women past menopause, having thyroid or bowel disease, and taking certain medications.  The reduced level of estrogen in post-menopausal women is a strong risk factor.  Long term use of prednisone and cortisone also increases risk, as does thyroid hormone medication.

Lifestyle choices can help reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.  A diet of calcium rich foods including dairy, salmon, and dark green leafy vegetables promotes bone health.  Calcium supplements may be appropriate if someone does not get enough calcium in their diet.  Vitamin D improves the body’s ability to absorb calcium.  Eating protein helps the body build strong bones.  Maintaining appropriate body weight is important.  Regular exercise can help slow bone loss.  A combination of strength training, weight-bearing, and balance exercises works best.

The National Institutes of Health recommends women should have a bone density scan at age 65.  The scan estimates bone mass and determines whether bones are thinning or weakening.  If bone density is good, women should be rescreened in 2-3 years.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that anyone who breaks a bone after age 50 have a bone density scan.

There is no cure for osteoporosis.  Treatment of the disease includes lifestyle changes such as modifying diet and exercise routines.  Doctors may prescribe medications that slow the breakdown of bone or help promote bone formation.

Osteoporosis causes a persons bones to break and is often a result of someone aging. When bones get thinner they become more fragile, which can lead to serious problems such as fractures and breaks. These fractures can be extremely painful and lead to other kinds of dangerous problems. One example is that someone with osteoporosis could easily lose their balance and fall, which could lead to other physical problems such as cuts and bruises. While the condition is common in both sexes, it is more common among women than men. Click here to read more »

With the summer slipping away and the fall approaching, it’s time for parents or guardians to start helping their children prepare for school. Between shopping for school supplies and new shoes, children should be taken for a regular physical examination in preparation for the start of classes. When it comes to making sure kids are ready to spend hours a day in the classroom, at recess and on the field with sports teams, nothing could be more important. The following are five reasons to take your children to get physicals before the school year starts.

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