How to prepare for general health screening

Besides doctors’ suggestion that everyone should undergo annual physical evaluation, circumstances like a life insurance policy and taking a new job can also subject you to a medical examination. Those with chronic diseases like heart disease requiring adult CPR can also be compelled to visit facilities for screening.

A medical examination is crucial, and you must be ready for it. Therefore, before you set an appointment for a routine checkup, you must ask yourself questions like, how long does the checkup take? What can I do to be ready for the checkup?

This article discusses some things you can do to prepare for a successful medical examination. But before we dive into that, let’s look at what a non-physical appointment is.

What is a non-physical appointment?

Also known as a wellness exam, a non-physical appointment is visiting a doctor for a specified reason. It can be due to a new infection or an already diagnosed one.

Wellness exam vs. physical exam

A wellness examination is for a specified reason and curative purposes, while physical examinations are preventive measures. A physical exam is a thorough assessment of one’s health that looks into feelings, age, and medical history. Its objective is to detect and mitigate any health problems before they arise. Many tests, like STD testing, are carried out during physical evaluation.

Here are tips for preparing for medical screening:

Get a good night’s sleep

You can pass the blood pressure test if you relax your body enough a day for evaluation. Sleep well the night before the examination to regulate stress hormones and help your nervous system remain healthy.

Drink lots of water

The amount of water you take will determine how long the physical exam will take. Drinking a lot of water will take a shorter time because when you are well-hydrated, drawing blood will be easier, and you will easily produce the needed urine sample.

Avoid exercise

A Strenuous exercise the night and morning before your evaluation can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, which may give a false result on your health condition. So, refrain from exercise and physical activities.

Avoid salty and fatty foods.

Salt and water increase cholesterol level in the body, which, in turn, lead to high blood pressure. Therefore, it is important to keep off salty and fatty foods three days before evaluation. If you can avoid it for a week, the better, but the minimum is 24 hours.

Fast

Doctors recommend fasting for 12 hours before a physical examination to help prevent blood pressure and sugar from elevating.

Do not drink coffee or smoke.

To keep your blood pressure low, you will have to avoid morning cups of coffee or smoke. Also, avoid marijuana for at least a month before the physical examination. Doctors also advise avoiding alcohol because it dehydrates the body, making it hard to draw blood.

Schedule the appointment in the morning.

To adhere to the above tips, you should schedule your appointment in the morning. It will allow you to fast overnight and have an adequate night’s sleep, meaning you’ll be relaxed and avoid the morning coffee, making it more beneficial.

Prepare a checklist

When visiting your doctor for a physical examination, ensure you have a list containing things you should carry or know. These include your medical history, concerns or questions you may want your doctor to address, or information about medications you may be taking.

Conclusion

A physical examination is as important as knowing how to prepare for it. You should therefore make a habit of visiting your doctor annually as per the recommendations for evaluation. This will help you mitigate any infection that might be on its way.