Banner Health
Making healthcare easier
INSTALL

Annual Wellness Exam

What is an annual wellness exam?

An annual wellness exam or visit is an essential part of preventive care, helping maintain your overall health and quality of life. These visits allow your primary care doctor to assess your health and identify potential risk factors for chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. By catching medical problems early, you can act before they become more serious.

These visits do not always include a physical exam, but may involve:

  • Measurements for height and weight
  • Blood work
  • Cancer screenings like mammograms and prostate exams
  • Heart-related screenings
  • Immunizations
  • Cholesterol checks
  • Taking vital signs
  • Lung exams

It’s important to use your annual wellness exam to talk to your provider about any health issues or concerns, including chronic conditions or medical problems.

Benefits of seeing your doctor regularly

Regular visits to your primary care physician for health and wellness checks are key to preventive services that can improve your quality of life. When you see your doctor annually, they can recommend the right screenings and exams to detect potential problems.

Even if you feel fine, it’s recommended to visit your doctor for an annual physical or wellness exam. Other benefits include:

  • Discussing ways to stay healthy and prevent disease
  • Catching potential health conditions, like diabetes, early when they are more treatable
  • Gaining a better understanding of your health history
  • Preventing complications from chronic conditions
  • Building a relationship with your doctor to improve communication
  • Taking a proactive approach to managing your health
  • Reducing emergency room (ER) visits
  • Lowering health care costs over time

Preparing for your annual wellness visit

As you prepare for your annual wellness exam, take these steps to ensure a productive visit:

  • Write down any questions you have for your doctor
  • Bring a list of current medications
  • Share your family health history and any concerns
  • Ask about health screenings appropriate for your age and risk factors

If you’re looking for a primary care provider, use our Find A Doctor tool to get started today.

What is involved in a wellness exam?

Wellness exams include a discussion of your health, illness prevention strategies, a review of medications and a health risk assessment. This can help address risk factors and provide guidance on managing medical problems like high blood pressure or chronic conditions.

Some annual wellness visits may also include a routine checkup. Be sure to talk with your doctor’s office about what to expect during your visit.

Well-child visit

Well-child visits are essential for tracking growth, development and ensuring immunizations are up to date. Your child will need these visits throughout their early years, transitioning to yearly checkups after age 4.

Well-woman visit

An annual well-woman visit, or gynecological exam, is essential for monitoring reproductive health and performing cancer screenings such as pap tests. These visits ensure that any issues are caught early, helping maintain long-term health.

Wellness exam vs. physical exam

While a wellness exam focuses on preventive services and health assessments, an annual physical is more comprehensive. During a physical exam, your doctor will check for physical abnormalities that could indicate underlying medical problems

A routine physical can include:

  • Checking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate
  • Inspecting your eyes, ears, nose, throat, and skin
  • Listening to your heart and lungs
  • Questions about your medical history, routine, and hygiene
  • Common lab tests, including blood work

For those who participate in sports, a sports physical ensures you're healthy enough for physical activity. If any risks are identified, additional tests may be recommended.

Talk to your doctor today

Make sure to schedule your annual wellness exam or physical exam to take control of your health and address any potential medical problems. Your doctor can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, prevent chronic conditions and improve your overall quality of life.

Why choose Banner Health for preventive and primary care?

At Banner Health, we prioritize your overall well-being by offering comprehensive preventive services and personalized primary care. Our experienced health care providers work closely with you to address potential risk factors, such as high blood pressure or chronic conditions like diabetes, before they become serious. We are committed to providing quality care, from routine annual physicals and wellness exams to cancer screenings and chronic disease management, all aimed at improving your quality of life. With a patient-centered approach and state-of-the-art facilities, Banner Health is here to support your health at every stage.