Annual Check-Up: What a General Practitioner Actually Looks For

A general check-up typically covers vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, weight/BMI), a review of your personal and family medical history for anything that's changed since your last visit, and a general physical exam — heart, lungs, abdomen — even in the absence of specific complaints.

Based on age, risk factors, and history, Dr. Maamo may recommend baseline labs — blood sugar, lipid panel, and others — even if you feel completely healthy, since several common conditions (diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension) are frequently symptom-free in early stages.

The real value of an annual check-up isn't catching something you already suspect — it's catching something you don't, while it's still easy to manage. If it's been over a year since your last one, that alone is a reasonable enough reason to book.