Here in Franklin, Tennessee, life often moves at a fast pace. From maintaining a manageable work-life balance to sustaining family relationships, we are overwhelmed by daily responsibilities. In light of this, we are prone to deprioritize health and foster unhealthy habits. From sleep medications to the occasional, “I’ll take care of myself later”, we assume that without noticeable symptoms, there’s no real need to schedule an annual checkup.
However, this assumption is highly misleading. Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes often develop silently. Across Franklin, ~20% of adults over 20 have high blood pressure, and 8.2% have diabetes. These “silent killers” are infamous for developing slowly, leaving no obvious symptoms until a crisis. For many, it is not uncommon to feel perfectly healthy, only to realize during an annual physical that you are dangerously in the red zone.
With the hectic pace of life, annual checkups have become essential. Regular checkups aren’t just for when something feels wrong; they’re instrumental in identifying health issues early.
What are Annual Physicals?
Annual Physicals are routine visits to your primary care provider to assess your overall health. These comprehensive visits are an excellent opportunity to check in with your doctor about any health concerns and to undergo preventive screenings to detect any undiagnosed symptoms. During these visits, your healthcare provider conducts a range of important evaluations, including but not limited to:
- Wellness Exams: A health assessment tailored toward your age and medical history, including current lifestyle habits, to better understand your overall health.
- Physical Examinations: These include measuring vital signs, checking your height and weight, and doing a thorough head-to-toe examination as appropriate.
- Lab Testing and Screenings: These may be recommended based on age, sex, and previous medical history and can include blood work to measure your cholesterol and thyroid function, among others.
- Immunizations: Flu shots and other vaccinations that protect you from diseases.
- Mental Health Checks: A discussion on mental health, offering advice on your lifestyle to support your emotional well-being.
- Creating Personalized Plans: Based on your examination results, your provider may offer personalized recommendations or next steps, depending on your health status and concerns.
Why Should I? Importance of Annual Physicals
It’s a common mindset that most of us share, “I feel healthy, so this won’t happen to me.” Although comforting, this is dangerously misleading. The truth is, most of us feel healthy until we are struck by the suddenness of these “silent killers”. Worse of all, most don’t realize it until the condition has worsened significantly.
A recent study found that Tennessee ranked fifth worst in disease risk factors, with the eighth highest rate of hypertension deaths, with 11.53 deaths per 100,000 state residents. Left unchecked, hypertension can quietly damage the body for years before symptoms appear, increasing the possibility of a deadly heart attack or stroke. In fact, hypertension isn’t the only hidden killer; there are numerous others. These statistics are reminders for us: taking good care of our bodies isn’t optional, it’s an absolute necessity.
- Tennessee Health Rankings (According to Forbes): Fifth-Highest Cancer Mortality Rate (165.9 deaths per 100,000 state residents)
How Annual Physicals Help: They help ensure patients are up to date on recommended cancer screenings. Cancer screenings, including mammograms and colonoscopies, can be scheduled separately to improve early detection. - Sixth Highest Heart Disease Mortality Rate (212.87 deaths per 100,000 state residents)
How Annual Physicals Help: A blood pressure test is a routine part of most health checkups. Regular monitoring helps detect hypertension early and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. - Seventh Highest Diabetes Mortality Rate (29.13 deaths per 100,000 state residents)
How Annual Physicals Help: The USPSTF recommends screening for diabetes for overweight or obese adults aged 35 to 70. Annual visits help identify who should be screened and when appropriate testing is needed. - Eighth Highest Rate of Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease Deaths (51.9 deaths per 100,000 state residents)
How Annual Physicals Help: While most routine physicals don’t include COPD screening, assessments of respiratory health, such as listening to lung sounds, can help identify appropriate diagnostic follow-ups.
Poor Health isn’t as sudden as many of us believe. It is the result of missing the chance to address these silent conditions while they are still in their infancy. This is why annual checkups are so important: it is an opportunity to address problems early, find solutions, and maintain long-term health.
Staying Healthy
Annual Physicals are a simple yet significant part of our lives. By consulting with specialized experts, we can maintain our long-term health with proper care. Although we may face other problems such as time constraints, cost concerns, or the stress of making a visit, finding just a little bit of time every year can pay long-term dividends.
Investing in your health is the most important of them all. Committing yourself to an annual checkup affords us the best chance at a better future.
Act today! At Versal Pro Health, we’re here to guide you toward a happier, healthier, and more secure future!
Primary Care Medicine in Franklin, TN — Schedule an Appt
At Versal Pro Health, we are committed to supporting you. We proudly serve patients in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, Cool Springs, Spring Hill, and surrounding communities across Middle Tennessee.
Contact us today to schedule a primary care appointment or annual physical. Our compassionate care team is here to help you feel better.
Sources:
GeoStat: Health Concerns in Franklin, TN (https://www.geostat.org/data/franklin-tn/health-concerns)
WellPoint: The Importance of Regular Checkups with your Doctor (https://www.wellpoint.com/member-resources/regular-checkups)
Versal Pro Health: Annual Physical Exams (https://versalprohealth.com/medical-clinic/annual-physical-exams/)
Complete Health Partners: What Can I Expect At An Annual Physical (https://completehealthpartners.com/what-can-i-expect-at-an-annual-physical/)
WKRN News: Tennessee ranked among the unhealthiest states in America, according to Forbes (https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/tennessee-ranked-among-the-unhealthiest-states-in-america-according-to-forbes/)
Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure Dangers (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868)
TN Department of Health: Early Detection is The Best Protection (https://www.tn.gov/health/news/2024/10/24/early-detection-is-the-best-protection–.html)
American Heart Association: Heart-Health Screenings (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/heart-health-screenings)
USPSTF: Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Screening (https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes)