Physical Exams

Physical Exams services offered in Richmond, TX

When you’re sick, you need a physical exam to help with diagnosis. When you’re well, physical exams detect health problems before you realize they’re there. At Fusion Primary Care and Wellness in Richmond, Texas, Zunaira Gul, MD, performs thorough physical exams for diagnosis, screening, treatment management, and specific purposes such as sports physicals. Call Fusion Primary Care and Wellness today to schedule a physical exam or request an appointment using the online booking form.

Physical Exams Q & A

What are physical exams?

Physical exams are consultations where your Fusion Primary Care and Wellness provider assesses your health.

A physical exam investigates symptoms like:

Abdominal pain
Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Ear or eye pain
Sore throat and lost voice
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Unexpected weight loss
Diarrhea or constipation
Balance problems

You also need periodic physical exams if you receive ongoing care for a long-term condition. The exam is part of your chronic disease management plan, checking how well treatments work and identifying new symptoms.

A third use for physical exams is the annual physical. This routine procedure checks for early signs of disease so you can receive timely treatment. This is a critical aspect of preventive medicine, helping you avoid ill health.

Variations on the annual physical include sports, school, and work physicals and men’s and women’s health checkups.

What happens at a physical exam?

The basic components of physical exams are similar for all purposes. Your provider reviews your medical and family history and asks about your current health conditions and medications. The next stage is checking your vital signs and key health indicators. These include:

Temperature
Blood pressure
Respiration (breathing) rate
Heart rate
Blood oxygen levels
Heart and lung sounds
Reflexes

Your provider also asks about your lifestyle, for example, how much you exercise, what you eat and drink, how much stress your life involves, and any bad habits like smoking.

How might physical exams for different purposes vary?

When performing a physical exam for diagnostic purposes, your provider examines the areas affected by your symptoms.

For example, if you have a sore throat, they shine a light down it and may use a tongue depressor to get a clear view. If you have back or joint pain, your provider feels the bones and connective tissues to identify abnormalities and asks you to move in specific ways to assess range of motion limitations.

Your provider examines your entire body for a routine checkup or annual physical. They check your eyes, ears, feet, joints, and abdomen, look for signs of mental health, balance, and memory issues, and watch how you move.

Specialized physical exams include specific procedures; for example, a pelvic exam during a women’s health checkup or heart and lung function tests for a sports physical.

Call Fusion Primary Care and Wellness today to learn more about physical exams or request a consultation online.