What Type of Tests Are Performed at a Physical?

You know that you should get a physical on a regular basis. Just like taking your car in for an oil change or cleaning out your rain gutters, this preventive care step can go a long way toward helping you avoid serious health issues down the road.

Still, most people don’t look forward to their annual physical exam. We think that comes down to two things. First, they might not be seeing a medical team that makes them feel cared for. Second, a lot of people dread their physical because they aren’t sure what to expect. 

Our team at SmartClinic Urgent Care can help with both issues. We offer personalized physical exams from caring providers with the goal of helping to move our patients toward their healthiest lives. We also work to provide excellent care that doesn’t come with any unwelcome surprises.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the tests we may recommend at a physical. 

Your physical exam

As the name “physical” suggests, someone from our team physically examines your body at your appointment. That generally means using a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs and feeling your abdomen to check for any abnormalities with your organs. 

We might also test your reflexes, look in your eyes and ears, and inspect your skin for sores, rashes, or signs of skin cancer. 

We talk with you about what we recommend during your physical exam. We encourage you to tell us about anything you’re not comfortable with, and we can tailor your physical to you. 

Blood work/urinalysis

We recommend that our patients get blood work done on a regular basis. This allows us to check key health indicators like your cholesterol levels and inflammatory markers while looking for specific issues like nutrient deficiencies.

Depending on your personal and family health history, we might also recommend urinalysis. This urine test allows us to check you for conditions like diabetes and kidney problems. 

We can perform blood work and urinalysis at our on-site lab. 

X-rays

If a particular part of your body has been bothering you or behaving abnormally, we can order an X-ray, which we also offer on site. This allows us to see what’s going on under the skin so we can diagnose any problems, ensuring you get the targeted treatment you need to feel your best.

Acuity tests

We might test your vision or your ability to feel temperature differences at your physical. These kinds of acuity tests are most common if you’re getting a specific physical, like one for the Department of Transportation. 

Pulse oximetry 

This painless test allows us to check the oxygen levels in your blood. We might recommend this as part of your physical exam if you have a health condition that affects your body’s blood oxygen levels, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Ultimately, we tailor the tests in your physical to your body as well as your personal and family health history. And no matter what, we can talk you through every step of the way. 

If you’re ready for your no-surprises physical, call SmartClinic Urgent Care or simply walk into either of our clinics in West Covina or Santa Clarita, California, today.