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An annual physical includes a review of your health history and lifestyle, a check of your vital signs, a head-to-toe physical exam covering each major organ system, a mental health screening, and common lab tests, such as blood work. Together, these elements give your provider a clear picture of your overall health and help catch problems early – often before you notice any symptoms. This annual visit is designed to build a long-term relationship with you and keep your health on track.
In this guide, we will walk you through exactly what happens during a yearly checkup, why it matters, and what tests you may expect – so you can feel prepared and get the most out of your appointment.
You might wonder why you need a physical when you feel fine. The truth is that many serious conditions – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, and even some cancers – develop slowly and quietly with no obvious symptoms in their early stages.
Annual physicals help in several important ways:
Early detection. Catching issues like high blood pressure or high cholesterol early makes them easier to manage. This focus on preventive care is central to our practice.
Establishing a health baseline. Seeing you regularly helps your provider learn what is “normal” for you – your typical blood pressure, heart rate, and lab values – making subtle changes easier to spot.
Updating prevention plans. Your provider will adjust recommendations for screenings, immunizations, and lifestyle changes based on your age, risk factors, and the latest health guidelines.
Building a relationship. Knowing your provider – and having them know you – leads to more open conversations, more accurate diagnoses, and better outcomes.
Peace of mind. A clean bill of health is reassuring, and a flagged concern means you can act sooner rather than later.
Regular checkups also support managing ongoing conditions. If you live with diabetes, thyroid disorders, heart disease, or asthma, the yearly visit is a key time to review treatment and adjust as needed. Our expertise in chronic disease management keeps your care coordinated and effective.
Understanding what is included in an annual physical can ease any nerves you might have. The visit usually starts with a conversation before moving into the hands-on exam.
Your provider will begin by going over your health history, including past illnesses, surgeries, injuries, hospitalizations, and any chronic conditions you manage. They will also review your medications and supplements – bring a complete list with doses – since careful review helps prevent harmful drug interactions. Your known allergies to medications, foods, or environmental factors will also be reviewed.
Next comes a lifestyle review. Your provider may ask about:
Current symptoms, even minor ones like joint pain or digestive issues
How much physical activity you get
Your eating habits and diet
Whether you smoke, drink alcohol, or use other substances
Your sleep patterns and energy levels
Stress at work or home
These questions are not meant to judge you. If you mention trouble sleeping or ongoing fatigue, that gives your provider clues worth exploring. Your provider will ask about the health of close relatives – parents, siblings, children, and grandparents – and whether anyone was diagnosed at a young age. They will be particularly interested in:
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Certain types of cancer
It is a good idea to gather this information before your appointment if you can. Even a few key details help your provider tailor your screening recommendations.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and a yearly physical is a natural time to check in. Your provider may ask simple questions about your mood, energy levels, and how you have been feeling emotionally.
This confidential screening helps identify concerns like depression, anxiety, or stress-related issues that you might not bring up on your own. If something comes up, your provider can discuss next steps, whether that means lifestyle changes, further evaluation, or a referral.
The exam often starts before your provider even touches you. By simply observing, a skilled provider notices your skin tone, posture, breathing, level of alertness, and whether you seem comfortable or in distress. These early clues can point to issues worth investigating further.
Vital signs are basic measurements that reveal how your body’s core systems are working. A member of the care team will check:
Blood pressure. This measures the force of blood against your artery walls and is a key indicator of heart health.
Heart rate (pulse). Shows how fast your heart is beating and whether the rhythm is steady.
Breathing rate. Reflects how well your lungs are functioning and can indicate lung or heart problems.
Temperature. A check for fever, which can be a sign of infection.
Height and weight. Used to calculate your body mass index, which can help guide conversations about healthy weight.
Your provider will examine your head and neck carefully. This often includes:
Looking in your eyes, ears, and nose
Examining your throat, tonsils, teeth, and gums for signs of infection or abnormalities
Feeling your lymph nodes for swelling, which can indicate infection
Checking your thyroid gland for enlargement or nodules, which can affect energy, weight, and mood
If you have had symptoms suggesting a thyroid disorder, this part of the exam is especially helpful.
Using a stethoscope, your provider listens to your heart for:
Heart rate and rhythm. Assessing for a steady, regular beat.
Heart sounds. Listening for any unusual sounds, such as a murmur, which could point to an issue with the heart valves or blood flow.
Taken together with your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, this provides a strong sense of your cardiovascular health. If anything seems off, your provider can order more tests or arrange a referral to a specialist.
You will be asked to breathe deeply as your provider listens to your lungs from both your back and chest. They check for clear airflow and listen for wheezing, crackling, or congestion that might suggest asthma, infection, or other issues. If you have been coughing, feeling short of breath, or experiencing frequent respiratory infections, be sure to mention it.
A thorough physical examination works through your major organ systems. This may include:
Abdomen. Your provider may gently press on your belly to check organ size and position, feel for masses or tenderness, and listen for bowel sounds. This can reveal digestive concerns.
Skin. Examining your skin for unusual moles, rashes, or lesions that could be early signs of skin cancer.
Muscles and joints. Checking your range of motion and looking for signs of arthritis or joint pain.
Nervous system. Testing reflexes, balance, and strength to make sure your nerves and muscles work together properly. The point is to leave no major system unchecked.
Beyond the hands-on exam, your provider may order tests to look deeper into your health.
Blood tests are a cornerstone of preventive care because they reveal what is happening inside your body. At Phoenix Internal Medicine, we offer on-site phlebotomy at both our Phoenix and Scottsdale offices. Your blood draw happens right in our office, so you do not have to travel to a separate lab. Common labs include:
Complete blood count (CBC). Evaluates your red and white blood cells and platelets, flagging anemia or signs of infection.
Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). Checks your blood sugar, electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney and liver function.
Cholesterol/lipid panel. Measures fats in your blood, including LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol, to assess your risk for heart disease.
Blood glucose. Checks your blood sugar to catch prediabetes or diabetes early.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). A common screen for thyroid disorders that can cause fatigue, weight changes, and mood swings.
Depending on your profile, your provider may also recommend hormone level checks for menopause or low testosterone, markers related to chronic disease management, screenings for certain cancers, or bone density tests as part of preventive care.
Vaccines and immunizations are also part of the visit. Your provider may review which vaccines you are due for, such as a yearly flu shot, and offer them during your appointment.
A little preparation goes a long way:
Write down your questions. A short list helps you remember concerns.
Bring a list of your medications. Include supplements and over-the-counter products, with doses if you know them.
Gather family history details. Even a few facts about relatives’ health can guide your care.
Note any symptoms. Track changes like fatigue, pain, or sleep trouble, even small ones.
Be honest. Your provider can only help with the full picture, so share openly about your habits and concerns.
Phoenix Internal Medicine cares for adults 18 and older across two convenient locations. Our Phoenix office is located in the Camelback & 101 area, and our Scottsdale office sits in Old Town Scottsdale. Both locations offer morning appointments Monday through Friday.
Our providers – including Dr. Punnaiah Marella, Dr. Shantipriya Siripurapu, and our team of dedicated physician assistants – focus on building lasting relationships with patients. We take the time to understand your health history and goals so your care evolves with you.
An annual physical brings together a health history and lifestyle review, a family history check, mental health screening, a thorough head-to-toe physical exam, and common tests like blood work – all aimed at keeping you healthy and catching problems early. Understanding what is included in an annual physical helps you walk into your appointment prepared and confident.
At Phoenix Internal Medicine, our personalized approach and on-site lab services make this yearly visit both thorough and convenient. Scheduling your physical each year is one of the simplest, most powerful steps you can take for your long-term health.
Author
Phoenix Internal Medicine
June 24, 2026
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