Full Medical exam?!
Question:
Full Medical exam?
Whats involved in the full medical exam and what is being tested?
Answers:
A complete physical would normally measure your height, weight and other vital signs like pulse, respirations, blood pressure, etc. It would include an exam of your eyes, ears, nose and throat. It would mean the doctor would feel your abdomen to make sure that you had no liver enlargment, listen to your bowel sounds, check your reflexes and examine your spinal curvature, listen to your breath sounds and heart sounds.
It may or may not include an exam of your external genitalia and a rectal exam. It may or may not include a breast exam (for women) and a testicular exam (for men)
Usual blood work would check your hemoglobin levels, white blood cell count, platelet counts and cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels (sometimes a fasting level of the latter). It may or may not include a liver function test. Usual chemistry blood test would check your creatinine (for kidney function) and BUN (likewise). A drug screen may also be performed if it's a requirement for employment.
Depending on your age, you may also get a ECG done to check your cardiac rhythm. A chest x-ray is sometimes taken if you are foreign born or at risk for tuberculosis.
What a complete physicial is trying to establish is your baseline state of health so that there is something to compare to when something goes wrong. A doctor takes your complete history, from childhood, and makes sure all your immunizations are current (like for tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, diptheria, etc.)