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Medical problems we can treat include but not limited to common colds and flu, sore throats, headaches, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, COPD, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, deep venous thrombosis management, pulmonary embolism management, vitamin deficiencies, allergies, heart disease, and urinary problems.

Why have an annual medical exam?

Depending on your age and a host of other factors- like family history, environment, and occupation - you can be at risk for certain medical problems which can be prevented by going to the doctor. The truth is, no one knows how long a person will live. Medical science does have good data on screening for certain diseases and preventing them from happening, which allows for continued quality of life. We believe having good health is like having money in the bank. What is good health worth? In Eastern countries, it is not unheard of that people pay their doctor when they are healthy and don't pay if they get sick. That's just how important maintaining good health is in a person's life.

What does the annual exam consist of?

The exam starts off with checking your vital signs. Think of the vital signs as quick indicators of a person's well being. The vital signs consist of temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate (how fast someone is breathing), and measuring the height and weight which provides the BMI (a ratio of weight to height). For example, a BMI of greater than 30 classifies a person as obese.

Then the doctor finds out more about you medically by discussing your family medical history, any medication or food allergies, any smoking habits, sexual activity if pertinent, genetic history if known, and any medications you might be taking.

The actual physical exam consists of observation, listening, palpation, and sensory/motor testing. The observation part involves looking at how the patient walks, and looking at his skin, hair, and nails. The doctor also looks in the patient's ears, nose, and mouth, and observes the color of the whites of his eyes. Listening involves the use of a stethoscope so the doctor can hear lung sounds, heart sounds, and stomach sounds. With palpation the doctor can feel for any enlargement of the thyroid gland, liver or spleen, any abdominal masses or herniae, or elicit normal or abnormal responses. Sensory and motor testing, along with checking reflexes, are performed with tools like a tuning fork or reflex hammer. Finally, depending on whether the patient is a man or a woman, the doctor might perform a testicular or breast/pelvic exam. With this information, a good medical assessment can be made about the patient.

Will I also have blood work done?

Generally yes, it is recommended that adults have their cholesterol checked every year. We also draw blood for thyroid hormone levels to assess your thyroid function, the hemoglobin A1C which is a good indicator of your sugar control for the past 3 months and can tell you if you have or are at risk for diabetes, and urine analysis to check for infection or protein leakage. Your basic chemistry and blood counts can tell us how your kidneys and bone marrow are functioning.

Will I get any referrals, radiological testing, or shots?

It depends on your age and/or medical need. For example, for someone over the age of 50, a colonoscopy is recommended, and referral to a gastroenterologist would be given. We would recommend women at risk for osteoporosis to obtain a bone mineral density scan. We offer annual flu shots to all of our patients, should they desire one.