What to Expect at Your Physical Exam and How to Prepare

Your physical exam is a comprehensive, preventive evaluation with a licensed nurse practitioner who reviews your history, checks your vitals, performs a head-to-toe exam, and recommends appropriate screenings and lab work — with the cost quoted before anything beyond the booked visit happens. At NBH Health in Pembroke Pines, a physical typically covers your medical history, your habits, a full examination, and a plan for any labs or follow-ups. Exams are available in-office or at home across Broward and Miami-Dade, with telemedicine follow-ups for Florida residents.

Knowing what to bring and what to expect makes the exam more useful and helps your provider give you better guidance. Here is how to prepare and what happens step by step.

How to prepare for your physical

A little preparation helps your physical go smoothly. Before your appointment, gather the following:

• A list of your current medications, including doses and frequencies.
• Any recent lab results or records you have from other providers.
• Your family history — especially heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other hereditary conditions.
• A note of any concerns or symptoms you want addressed, even if they seem minor.
• Your pharmacy information, in case a prescription or lab order is needed.
• Questions you want to ask — write them down so you do not forget.

If your physical includes lab work that requires fasting, the practice tells you when you book. For a general physical without fasting labs, no special preparation is needed.

What happens during the exam

The exam itself is thorough but unhurried. Your provider, Nedelis Buela, APRN, AGNP, starts by reviewing your history and listening to any concerns you have. She checks your vital signs — blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, breathing rate — and performs a head-to-toe physical examination.

Unlike a rushed clinic visit, the goal is a real conversation. She asks about your habits — sleep, diet, exercise, alcohol, tobacco — because those shape your health as much as any lab value. If a screening or lab would help clarify your risk, she explains which one and why. If she notices something that needs follow-up, she discusses it with you rather than leaving it for a surprise later.

What lab work may be involved

Depending on your age, history, and risk factors, your provider may recommend lab work as part of your physical:

• A lipid panel to check cholesterol and triglycerides.
• A blood glucose or A1C to screen for diabetes risk.
• A basic metabolic panel to check kidney and liver function.
• A complete blood count to screen for anemia and other issues.
• A thyroid panel if your history or symptoms suggest it.
• Other screenings based on your age and risk factors.

Not every physical needs extensive lab work. Your provider recommends labs based on what would actually inform your health picture, not as a routine step. You receive a personalized quote for any labs before they are done.

How long a physical takes

Plan for enough time to actually talk. A comprehensive physical generally runs longer than a quick sick visit, because your provider is reviewing your full history, performing a complete exam, and discussing prevention — not just addressing one concern. You will not be rushed, but the visit is efficient. Exact timing depends on your history and whether lab work is involved.

What to expect after the exam

After your physical, your provider discusses what she found — in plain language, not jargon. If your labs are pending, she explains when results will be ready and how you will review them. If she recommended any follow-up — a specialist referral, a lifestyle change, a repeat lab — she explains why and helps you plan the next step.

Because patients have direct access to their provider, you can message Nedelis between visits if you have questions about your results or your plan. You do not have to wait for a follow-up appointment to ask a question.

How follow-ups and ongoing care work

A physical is not a one-time event — it is the start of an ongoing relationship with your health. After your physical, your provider may recommend a follow-up to review labs, check on a finding, or adjust a plan. Many follow-ups can be done by telemedicine, so you do not have to return to the office just to hear your results.

If your physical reveals a chronic condition — high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, prediabetes — your provider builds a management plan and schedules ongoing follow-ups. The physical becomes the starting point for coordinated care, not an isolated event.

How to make the most of your physical

A few habits help you get more from your physical. Be honest about your habits — sleep, diet, exercise, alcohol, tobacco — because that context shapes your provider's recommendations as much as any lab value. Bring your questions, in order of priority, so the most important ones get addressed. Share any concerns, even if they seem minor, because a physical is the right time to raise them. And ask for clarification whenever a term or a recommendation is not clear.

After the exam, take a moment to note any next steps — labs to schedule, follow-ups to book, habits to work on — while they are fresh. If you think of a question later, message your provider rather than letting it pile up.

When to schedule your next physical

Your provider recommends a cadence based on your age, risk factors, and any findings from your exam. For most adults, an annual physical is a good baseline. If your physical reveals something that needs monitoring — a borderline lab value, a new risk factor — she may recommend a sooner follow-up.

Between physicals, reach out if something changes — a new symptom, a concern, a question about your health. You do not need to wait for your next physical if a concern arises, and you do not need to book a full physical for a quick question that can be handled by message or a short visit.

If you are due for a physical exam or want to establish a baseline for your health, NBH Health offers physical exams for adults 18 and older in Pembroke Pines, with at-home visits across Broward and Miami-Dade and telemedicine follow-ups for Florida residents. Request an appointment online or call / WhatsApp (786) 443-4767. Beyond the Health.