Annual exams with your primary care physician help promote better health. They allow the doctor to monitor your overall health and wellness and make individualized recommendations that can reduce your risk for developing certain conditions and ensure you remain healthy. Dr. Lawrence Tran, board-certified family physician, offers annual exams at our Burbank, North Hollywood, CA, area practice. 

What to Expect at an Annual Exam

An annual exam is a yearly checkup with your primary care doctor to assess your overall health. Some patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, might benefit from scheduling checkups more often. Dr. Tran can determine if you should schedule an exam more frequently than once each year. 

There are several components to an annual exam. They often include a review of your medical history, both individual and family. Reviewing your family’s medical history helps the doctor identify health conditions you might have an increased risk of developing if they tend to run in the family. The doctor can recommend specific steps you can take to reduce your risk.  

Another key aspect of an annual exam is a physical examination. Various things are checked to assess your overall physical health and identify potential health issues or concerns, if any. A physical exam portion of your checkup can include the following:

• Vital signs — Blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and temperature 
• Measurements, such a height and weight or body mass index (BMI)
• Blood sugar, thyroid and lipid screening 
• Vision and hearing screening 
• Vaccination updates 

Depending on age or gender, additional screenings and assessments might be performed as part of the physical exam. For example, individuals over 40 years of age can benefit from a basic cardiac screening that includes an in-office EKG. Older women might also undergo a bone density assessment to check for osteoporosis. Additional screenings can also be performed during an exam, as needed, such as a skin cancer or STD screening. 

Annual Exams & Prevention 

There are numerous benefits to keeping up with your annual exams at our Burbank, North Hollywood, CA, area office. One major benefit is prevention. Annual exams serve a preventive purpose by helping reduce your risk for developing certain diseases and conditions, as well as increasing the likelihood of diagnosing health problems early. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment prevents health concerns from progressing. 

Annual exams serve many important purposes, such as risk reduction, prevention and early diagnosis of various health conditions. For annual exams in the Burbank, North Hollywood, CA, area, schedule an appointment with Dr. Tran by calling our office at (818) 391-1028.