Health Checkup

Regular checkups with your health care provider are different from appointments for sickness or injury. These checkups include physical exams as well as preventive care. Preventative care may include:

• Screening tests, which are medical tests to check for diseases early, when they may be easier to treat. Which screenings you need will depend on your:
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Overall health
  • Family health history
  • Risks for certain diseases
• Vaccines, which can improve your health by preventing diseases and other health problems.
• Education and counseling to help you make informed health decisions. This could include advice about your lifestyle, including your diet, how much exercise you get, and any alcohol, tobacco, or other substances you may be using.

To make the most of your next check-up, here are some things to do before you go:

• Review your family health history
• Find out if you are due for any general screenings or vaccines
• Make and bring a list of issues and questions you would like to talk about with your provider
• Make and bring a list of any medicines, vitamins, supplements that you take

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Questions for your care team

General prompts to help prepare for your appointment.

• How does this information apply to my situation?
• Which symptoms or results need evaluation?
• Which tests are useful, and what can they tell us?
• What care options, benefits, and risks should we discuss?
• When should I seek urgent help, and whom should I call?
• When is follow-up, and how will we know whether the plan is working?