The idea that individuals should undergo annual medical check-ups was abandoned by American health professionals several years ago, but many patients still think that such exams are necessary.

These patients may be unaware that annual comprehensive physical examinations have been shown to have little or no value and have thus been rejected by the American Medical Association, the US Public Health Service and various other medical organizations.

These groups instead recommend that healthy men and women undergo regular specific screening tests such as Pap smears, mammograms and fecal occult blood testing, which have been proven beneficial in detecting cervical, breast and colorectal cancer.

Researchers surveyed 1,203 individuals from Colorado, Massachusetts and California, and found that two thirds of the respondents believed that annual physicals are a necessary component of routine medical care.

In Colorado, for example, more than 9 out of every 10 respondents desired "head-to-toe" examinations including heart and lung exams and testing of their reflexes. These individuals also expected doctors to ask them about their alcohol and drug use, diet and exercise.

Further, patients were more interested in blood tests for kidney, liver, or thyroid function -- none of which are currently recommended -- than they were in tests of proven value, such as mammograms, sigmoidoscopies and other types of cancer screenings.

Annals of Internal Medicine May 7, 2002;136:652-659, 701-703

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

While I do agree that the physical examination part of the annual exam is relatively worthless, an annual visit and biochemical analysis makes quite a bit of sense to monitor your health. Folks this is not rocket science. Don't most of you at least take your car in once a year for an oil change and check up? Our bodies are certainly much more valuable than our cars and deserve an inspection to make certain we haven't veered to far off the pathway of health. These are the fasting blood tests I recommend you should have once a year if you are over 40 or chronically unhealthy: Insulin Level Blood Sugar Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides Non-Fasting Tests: TSH, Free T3, Free T4 Vitamin D Level (25-Hydroxy D) PSA if you are a man Weight Blood pressure If you are extremely healthy these tests can probably be done every few years until 50 to 60 years old. Dietary Review I would also check compliance to the eating plan making certain that: Enough water - one quart for every 50 pounds of body weight Enough omega-3 fats are eaten Compliance with juicing program Making certain raw foods are 50% or more