Ask the doctor: Should you keep that yearly check-up?
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I ask all of my patients with no chronic illnesses to come for a check-up every year. A check-up includes some questions, some parts of a physical examination, and some tests. Even though many doctors perform a thorough physical examination of all parts of the body—a "complete physical"—there is not a lot of evidence that this is valuable. I always examine the heart, lungs, abdomen, and skin. Even this limited examination is of unproven value, but I've discovered irregular heart rhythms, mild asthma, and the occasional skin cancer. I'm not sure I've ever turned up anything important on examining the nose, throat, hands, or feet, however.
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