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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/healthcheckup.html

Health Checkup

Also called: Annual checkup, Annual physical examination, Routine physical examination

Summary

Regular checkups with your health care provider are different from appointments for sickness or injury. These checkups include physical exams as well as preventive care. Preventative care may include:

  • Screening tests, which are medical tests to check for diseases early, when they may be easier to treat. Which screenings you need will depend on your:
  • Vaccines, which can improve your health by preventing diseases and other health problems.
  • Education and counseling to help you make informed health decisions. This could include advice about your lifestyle, including your diet, how much exercise you get, and any alcohol, tobacco, or other substances you may be using.

To make the most of your next check-up, here are some things to do before you go:

  • Review your family health history
  • Find out if you are due for any general screenings or vaccines
  • Make and bring a list of issues and questions you would like to talk about with your provider
  • Make and bring a list of any medicines, vitamins, supplements that you take

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Related Issues

Specifics

Health Check Tools

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Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

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Older Adults

Patient Handouts

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.