What to Expect at an Annual Physical

Before you arrive: how to prepare

Bring a complete list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements with doses. Write down any symptoms or concerns you want to raise — even if they seem minor or unrelated. Note any new family health history since your last visit (a parent diagnosed with heart disease, a sibling with diabetes). If you are seeing a new clinician, bring prior records or lab results if you have them.

Some practices send intake paperwork through a patient portal before your visit; filling it out in advance saves time and lets you think carefully about your history.

Check-in and vital signs

A nurse or medical assistant typically starts the visit by measuring blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, weight, and height. These establish a baseline and can flag issues before the clinician enters.

Blood pressure measurement in particular requires care — it is often transiently elevated in a clinical setting ("white coat hypertension"), so some clinicians measure it more than once or ask you to rest before the reading 1Ref 1Muntner P, Shimbo D, Carey RM, et al. (2019).Measurement of Blood Pressure in Humans: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Importance of accurate blood pressure measurement at clinical visits, including white coat hypertension and the value of repeat measurements. Blood pressure is one of the most important preventive findings because hypertension commonly has no symptoms.

The health history conversation

Your clinician will ask about what has changed since your last visit, any new symptoms, and lifestyle factors: sleep, stress, mood, diet, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual health. This may feel wide-ranging — preventive care looks at the whole person.

Answer honestly. Your clinician is not judging you, and accurate information leads to better care. If something feels sensitive, you can say so.

The physical examination

The examination varies by clinician and your specific situation, but commonly includes listening to your heart and lungs, palpating the abdomen for organ size or tenderness, checking lymph nodes, and examining the skin and extremities. Your clinician may look in your ears, throat, nose, and eyes.

Depending on your age and sex, the exam may include a pelvic exam, breast exam, or testicular and hernia check. Not every component is done at every visit for every person — the examination is guided by your history.

Screenings, labs, and vaccines

Based on your age, sex, family history, and risk factors, your clinician may order blood tests (cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, kidney and liver function) or refer you for cancer screenings.

For example: colorectal cancer screening is recommended starting at age 45 for average-risk adults 2Ref 2Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. (US Preventive Services Task Force) (2021).Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 for average-risk adults; breast cancer screening is recommended starting at age 40 3Ref 3Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, Wong JB, et al. (US Preventive Services Task Force) (2024).Screening for Breast Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Breast cancer screening recommended starting at age 40. Depression screening using a brief validated questionnaire — such as the PHQ-9 4Ref 4Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW (2001).The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure.PHQ-9 as a validated brief depression screening instrument used at preventive visits — is commonly done at preventive visits 5Ref 5O'Connor E, Henninger M, Perdue LA, et al. (2023).Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.USPSTF recommendation for depression screening in adults at preventive visits.

Vaccines you are due for may also be administered or ordered at the visit. Not every test is appropriate for every visit — a clinician who knows your history orders what fits you, not a blanket panel.

Your questions and the care plan

Before the visit ends, your clinician should explain what they found, what they are monitoring, and what comes next. This is your opportunity to ask questions. Good questions to consider: Are all my screenings up to date? Are there any changes to my medications? Is there anything in my results I should watch? When should I come back?

If you are managing a chronic condition, the annual physical is a good time to review how things are going and adjust the plan. Do not leave without a clear sense of follow-up — whether that is a lab result you will hear about, a referral, or a next-visit date.