In Dr Gafanovich S Clinic You Have the Opportunity to Have an Annual Physical Examination
Annual physical examination
What tests it includes? Who is it for? Why should it be done?
You will find answers to these questions in this article. This should encourage you to make an appointment with Dr Gafanovich to have your annual physical examination as soon as possible.
In Dr Gafanovich’s clinic you have the opportunity to have an annual physical examination. This physical examination is recommended yearly not only for patients with diseases, ill heath or for the elderly. This is a routine recommended especially for young and healthy men and women. The annual physical examination for the young and healthy will concentrate on baseline disease prevention for examplekeeping healthy cholesterol levels, keeping your heart strong through ECG testand additional tests if needed. Most of these tests are preformed in Dr Gafanovich’s clinic with results received and discussed with you.
Going through this thorough examination including various tests is recommended once a year, since finding signs of illness can lead to an early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
This annual physical examination will include these following tests (each test description has a short explanation).
- Baseline ECG, an electrocardiogram is a test to detect atrial fibrillation.
- Pulmonary function test is a group of tests used to measure the air volume, air flow rate, the volume and capacity of your lungs.
- Blood-work, since the doctor can confirm physically ill conditions testing the blood for numerous substances. These blood tests will include:
- A cholesterol panel, if needed, we have the cholesterol tests and results in the office (otherwise we send out) if the insurance does not cover the office test is 25$.
- Diabetesscreening (including blood glucose monitoring, and for levels of Vitamin B12; TSH,etc.)
- Thyroid function test check for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism by measuring the serum concentration of the two thyroid hormones TS and T4 and the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
A detailed medical history
Dr Gafanovich’s will asked you questions about conditions and diseases you or your family members suffered from in the past. This detailed examination of your medical history will put an emphasis on primary disease prevention. Often conditions and diseases you or your family members suffered from in the past can help the doctor to know which diseases can be prevented or treated through early diagnosis.
Cancer screening
Forthe early detection for signs of cancer the following examinations can be preformed.
Screening for breast cancer can first be done by a physical examination in the clinic. You will also be taught how to perform a self examination throughout the year. Dr. Gafanovich’s can further refer you to do a mammography which is performed in another medical facility.
Screening for cervical cancerin women is done by a test called a Papanicolau(pap) smear.Routine pap smear screening can detect the beginning and prevent the progression of cervical cancer. In addition a screening for detecting the human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer, can be preformed.
Colorectalscreening recommendation for average-risk adults should begin at the age of 50 years. There are a number of tests that can be used: fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema.
Heart diseases prevention
Cardiovasciular diseases include: arterial hypertension, heart failure and chronic coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease.
Risk factors in general for cardiovascular diseases include: current smoking, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), ischemic heart disease (angina), raised LDL- cholesterol levels, body mass index (BMI), obesity, gender (man or woman) and race.
An annual physical examination aimed at preventing heart diseases will take into consideration these risk factors. Detectionof most of these risk factors is done through the following tests which are preformed in the clinic (each test description hasa short explanation).
- Blood-work since the doctor can confirm physically illheart conditions by testing the blood for numerous substances.
- Peripheral arterial screening for detecting coronary arterial disease can be done by functional cardiac tests noninvasive lower- extremity peripheral arterial testing with brachial artery ultrasound imaging,exercise tolerance testing, coronary angiography, computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Abdominal aorta screening through an ultrasound screening test for the detection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
If needed, Dr. Gafanovich can further refer you toanother medical facility whichcan perform additional tests, asstress echocardiography, CT or MRI.
Most of these tests are preformed in Dr Gafanovich’s clinic. Lifestyle changes or treatment will be offered and discussed with you according to the test results
For patients taking blood thinners as Vitamin-K-antagonists (VKA) and heparins (as warfarin) we routinely measure the international normalized ratio (INR). This INR blood clotting test is performed to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks (as bleeding or thromboembolism) of treatment with oral articoagulants(blood thinners), usually prescribed to the older population.The results will be interpreted by Dr Gafanovich and if needed she will adjust the dose regimen.
We hope your understand now the importance and you feel encouraged to make an appointment with Dr Gafanovich to have your annual physical examination as soon as possible.