The Importance of Your Annual Physical Exam
Feb 18, 2026
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Everyone knows that preventive healthcare is one of the best ways to catch health problems early and live a longer life. But only about 20% of American adults undergo an annual physical exam.
If you don’t have any medical concerns, it’s easy to put regular checkups on the back burner, but doing so is risky. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, issues like high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, and high blood sugar can lead to more serious problems.
That’s why at Ample Health in Carmichael and Sacramento, California, our team of board-certified internists, including Dheeraj Kamra, MD, and Mythli Nagaraj, MD, along with Alice Phillips, FNP, and Yelena Popova, PA, offers physical exams for adults.
Read on to learn more about physical exams, why they’re so important, and what to expect.
An annual physical exam is a routine checkup that assesses your overall health. It presents an opportunity to ask questions, discuss any worrisome symptoms, and build a relationship with your primary care provider.
Some people assume there needs to be an underlying reason to schedule a physical, but that isn’t the case. You don’t need to be sick or experiencing any symptoms to benefit.
While recommendations vary, we encourage all adults, especially those 50 and older, to participate in an annual physical exam. Doing so can alert you to potential issues, provide peace of mind, and support healthy aging.
A physical exam is tailored to your individual needs. Even so, most follow a similar structure. Here’s what to expect:
Before performing the exam, we review your health history and ask about your lifestyle, including diet, exercise habits, and diagnoses, such as high blood pressure.
Answer the questions honestly and tell us about any medications (both over-the-counter and prescription) that you take. If you have any concerns or are experiencing any unusual symptoms, bring those up, too.
Next, we complete a comprehensive physical. We weigh and measure you, check your blood pressure and heart rate, and examine you from head to toe. More specifically, we examine your head and neck, listen to your heart and lungs, gently press on your abdomen to check your organs, and test your reflexes.
Then, we order lab work, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and a glucose test to check your blood sugar. We may also order urinalysis, diagnostic imaging, or a special screening, like a colonoscopy, depending on your age, health history, and needs.
In most cases, a physical confirms you’re in good health. But if we identify any potential issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, we make custom treatment recommendations.
This typically involves lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress. In some cases, prescription medication or specialist referrals are necessary.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a treatment plan that supports your well-being while preventing any underlying medical issues from worsening. We may also recommend updating certain vaccines or scheduling a follow-up exam to monitor specific issues.
If it’s been more than a year since your last physical, don’t wait to take action, even if you’re young and healthy. Many medical issues aren’t obvious, but a physical can alert you and lower the risk of complications.
Contact us at Ample Health in Carmichael, California, to schedule a physical exam. Call our office or book your appointment online. Telehealth appointments are also available, but physicals often require an in-person visit.