If you request a complete - or executive - physical, you should expect your physician to do more than listen to your heart and lungs. In fact, a complete physical should include a wide range of tests depending on your age and gender - such as chest x-rays, audiograms, EKGs, laboratory tests, heart stress tests, pulmonary function testing, CAT scans, urinalysis, mammograms, prostate exams, vascular age tests.
One of the most important steps in a complete physical is the first one - discussing your recent medical history with your physician. If you have concerns, are experiencing symptoms or have questions about preventative tests or measures - now is the time to be forthright. After all, what you do - or don’t - tell your physician plays a role in the examination. If you’re experiencing tenderness - tell and show your doctor. Bothered by headaches, indigestion, an inability to sleep, shortness of breath, excessive fatigue? Tell your doctor. After all, who better to know what constitutes ‘normal’ for you and what is indicative of change, than you? I also recommend that you speak with your significant other or family members or friends with whom you live. They can point out things that might not be as obvious to you - physical traits or symptoms that you have simply “gotten used to” that may be worth a mention to your physician.
I spoke to a woman in her early 40s who does, on average, 300 ab exercises three to four times a week. The result? Not much. She has abs - but they’re “buried” beneath a layer of belly fat. She’s also a runner - so she gets plenty of exercise. So, she wondered, is it age? And, further, does belly fat affect one’s health?
During nearly every Emergency Department shift I deal with genitourinary problems and pregnancy complications. Usually, common infections are found. But sometimes, less common infections - such as bacterial mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections - are diagnosed.
What are these infections? Mycoplasmas are some of the smallest living organisms that, unlike most bacteria, do not have cell walls - instead they live within other live cells. A close relative is ureaplasma. Both of these organisms can be found in up to 70% of sexually active adults. But when there is significant overgrowth problems can occur, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, urethritis and pregnancy loss.
Because mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas naturally occur in the body, patients are not routinely tested for the bacteria. However, women who experience infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, pelvic pain, premenstrual symptoms or vaginal symptoms should be tested. A culture test, similar to a pap test, is taken.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the nation’s most common minor medical problems — and one that is frequently seen in the Urgent Care or Emergency Department. In order to clarify treatment, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reissued guidelines for treating UTIs in nonpregnant women this past year.
Remember when your grandmother had those terrible sausage-like blue veins on her legs and would wear heavy stockings while complaining about the pain? As a child, you were convinced you would never have such terrible looking legs, but time has caught up with you and now your legs are suffering the same look. Fortunately, you have more options, both medically and surgically, to deal with varicose veins than your grandmother did.
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