August 6, 2020
In addition to monitoring heart and blood pressure and testing for diabetes, physicians use this annual visit to discuss diet, exercise options, provide pediatric vision screenings, and testing for cholesterol and anemia.
It’s also a good chance to address important questions or concerns you have as a parent, especially with teenagers, including adolescent issues of substance use such as drinking, smoking, drugs, sexual activity, and depression.
The sports physical is an opportunity to address exercise-specific issues, including injuries, nutrition, training and exercise programs, and even attitudes toward sports participation in the course of the exam.
Your physician can also advise your child if he or she is already involved in an exercise and training program. Overuse and overtraining injuries continue to be huge problems among young people.
If you are struggling with things like making ends meet, navigating special education services at school, finding local extracurriculars or general community support, or frankly a referral for your own care―talk with your physician.
Parenting is hard work; this is even more reason to set aside one day a year for you and your child to have your wellness visits. If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our medical providers, please call (254) 865-2166.