If you eat healthy foods, stay hydrated, engage in regular physical activity, manage stress, get plenty of sleep, and avoid harmful behaviors like smoking, drugs, and excessive alcohol consumption, you’re on course to maintain optimal health. However, when was the last time you had a physical exam, and do you diligently undergo annual ones? If you can’t recall the last time and don’t schedule them annually, you should read on to learn why regular physical exams are a cornerstone of maintaining excellent health.

With expertise in preventative health in Tampa, Florida, Health + Glow lead physician Dr. Swapna M. Kallikadan says annual physical exams are essential to health management because they proactively prevent illnesses by monitoring a patient’s ongoing health. “I love to hear that my patients eat a balanced diet, keep fit, sleep well, and ascribe to other healthy living steps,” says Dr. Kallidadan. “However,” she adds, “I chide my patients when they become negligent about scheduling annual physical exams.”

If you’ve been negligent, read on to learn where to go for your annual physical in Tampa, FL, and why they matter.

Why Annual Physical Exams Matter

Annual physical checkups with a competent physician provide patients with numerous benefits that enhance their distinct efforts to maintain the best in great health. Regular physical exams can easily identify emergent issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and other common health concerns before they become severe. Your PCP can use blood work, urinalysis, and other screenings based on age and risk factors to monitor you for signs of often latent diseases like cancer and kidney disease. By treating any discovered conditions early in their progression, a PCP can provide more effective treatment, helping secure better outcomes.

An annual physical is the perfect time for your PCP to ensure you’re up to date on vaccinations and effectively manage any chronic conditions affecting you. Yearly checkups also help you build a solid relationship with your doctor, enhancing communication and trust. With each exam, your PCP gains a more comprehensive understanding of your unique health profile and needs. Your doctor can use this growing knowledge to more effectively personalize your healthcare with distinct treatment or recommended diet, exercise, or lifestyle changes, as warranted.

Where to Go for Your Annual Physical in Tampa

Anyone needing a physical exam in Tampa has numerous options. If you’re insured by a health maintenance organization, you’re probably required to choose a primary care physician (PCP) within its network. Those with other insurance plans should check with group, family, or internal medicine practices. During your search, focus on doctors who are board-certified and affiliated with local hospitals like Tampa General or AdventHealth.

Other options include community health centers and urgent care clinics. Community health centers are a great option for those with limited or no insurance, and Tampa Family Health Centers can help find one near you. An urgent care clinic may be willing to perform a physical, but it will likely focus on current health status and existing conditions rather than offer comprehensive preventative care.

While both options may get you a physical exam, neither will likely provide you with a dedicated PCP who can offer you ongoing long-term health management. Family and internal medicine practices are the best options for securing the long-term healthcare services of a dedicated PCP.

Instead of just Googling “primary care physician in Tampa” or “primary checkup near me” to find a qualified PCP, you could start by contacting Dr. Kallikadan at Health + Glow. Our internal medicine practice specializes in providing Tampa-area patients with long-term, comprehensive, personalized care. As part of our commitment to meeting each patient’s distinct healthcare needs, we recently launched our Elite Care program. With three membership levels and add-on services, it provides personalized preventative care strategies based on each patient’s existing health status, lifestyle, genetic factors, chronic conditions, and health management goals.

Join Elite Care in Tampa with a Three-Month Trial Run

You can join Health +Glow’s Elite Care program on a trial run to experience the exceptional personalized health care we provide our members. By joining today, you can commit to just the first three months to ensure our healthcare services meet all expectations. Know that with our commitment to provide outstanding primary care and to maintain our low patient-to-physician ratio, we have a limited number of open memberships.

For Annual Physical Exams and Optimal Primary Health Care in Tampa, Contact Health + Glow

Health + Glow provides Tampa-area patients with personalized primary care services in a comfortable, relaxed state-of-the-art clinic. Our facility includes a medical spa and IV therapy station for additional pampered care to provide patients with a one-stop option to cover the full range of health and beauty treatments. To learn more about our top-notch personalized primary care services in Tampa, schedule an appointment today.