Physicals

Getting a routine physical is the best way to keep your health on track and maintain long-term wellness. At Prosperity Internal Medicine in Reston, Virginia, Tarique Zahir, MD, and Taseen Mir, MD, provide comprehensive physicals. They thoroughly evaluate your current health, looking for early signs of possible problems, and running in-house labs when needed. Call Prosperity Internal Medicine or schedule an in-person physical online today. Telehealth consultations are also available for your convenience.

When do I need a physical?

Getting a regular physical is important for your long-term health. How often you need to schedule a routine physical is a decision between you and your Prosperity Internal Medicine provider.

Yearly physicals are the standard for high-quality health care. However, you may need to have an exam more or less frequently, depending on your age, your overall health, and your risk of developing chronic health conditions.

What happens during physicals?

Like all visits to the doctor, your physical begins with checking your weight, temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. You need to update your medical history and tell your provider about all of the medications and supplements you take.

If you take several prescriptions or multiple supplements, make a list or bring them with you. Your provider can review them and make sure you’re not taking medications and supplements that might interact with one another.

During a physical, your provider completes a thorough exam of every body system, checking your nose, mouth, throat, and ears, listening to your heart and lungs, feeling your abdomen, checking your reflexes, and evaluating balance and muscle strength.

Your provider may draw blood or ask you to collect a urine sample for a urinalysis. A urinalysis is a quick screening tool for a range of possible problems. Blood tests provide in-depth information about any part of your body, depending on the specific tests ordered.

What services are included during physicals?

Your physical may include any of the following:

• Pap smear
• Pelvic and breast exam
• Prostate exam
• Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing
• Immunizations
• Skin check
• Cognitive assessment
• Mental health assessment
• Nutritional counseling
• Weight loss counseling
• Health screenings
• Medication management

Prosperity Internal Medicine also performs school and work physicals.

Which health screenings are included in physicals?

Health screenings detect signs of diseases before you develop symptoms, allowing you to get early treatment that may prevent the problem from progressing. Health screenings for certain diseases are recommended for a specific age group or when you have a high risk of developing a disease.

Your provider does some health screenings during your physical, such as checking for signs of skin, breast, and prostate cancers. They refer you to a specialist for other screenings. For example, you may need colon cancer or osteoporosis screenings.

Call Prosperity Internal Medicine or use the online booking tool to schedule your physical today.