Annual Physical

Chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension affect millions of Americans each year. However, many of these diseases are entirely preventable and treatable early on, which is why Shawn Hamilton, MD, and the team at Spruce Medical Group in Irvine, California, offer annual physicals. If you’re due for your routine physical or need to get established with a primary care physician, book an exam online today. You can also call the clinic directly to schedule your next appointment.

Why do I need annual physicals?

Annual physicals are part of your comprehensive health care plan. They’re designed to detect chronic conditions that you may develop or that may run in your family. You need annual physicals to lower your risk of:

• High cholesterol and hypertension
• Heart and kidney disease
• Bone loss (osteoporosis)
• Weight gain and obesity
• Certain cancers
• Diabetes 

These types of chronic conditions (and others!) don’t develop overnight. Routine screenings are critical to finding out if you’re at risk and to intervene early if anything is awry. 

What happens during an annual physical?

Your annual physical at Spruce Medical Group is your dedicated one-on-one time with your internist to discuss all of your health concerns or symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Depending on your personal and family health history, as well as your current health, your physician may perform or recommend any of the following screenings and tests:

• Urinalysis 
• Heart rate analysis
• Blood pressure check
• Bone density screening
• Body mass index (BMI) calculation 
• Blood testing, possibly to check your blood sugar or cholesterol

For women, annual physicals may include pelvic exams, breast exams, or Pap smears. If you’re male, your annual physical could include a prostate exam.

If you need to lose weight or get rid of stubborn fat, your physician can put together a personalized weight management plan, which may include WarmSculpting™ with SculpSure® body contouring treatments. These treatments destroy fatty pockets without pain or surgery.* 

How often do I need a physical exam?

In general, the highly skilled medical team at Spruce Medical Group encourages you to come in for a physical exam around the same time every year. But if you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, your doctor may want to see you twice a year or even once a quarter.

In some cases, you may be able to receive any follow-up care you may need through Spruce Medical Group’s exclusive telemedicine portal. This way, you can communicate with your doctor via the internet or an app, so you won’t have to come to the clinic. 

If you’re due for an annual physical, you can book your exam with Spruce Medical Group directly through the website. You can also call the office to speak with a team member. 

* Individual results may vary.