Robert A Reid, MD, Internal Medicine family doctor in Kirkland Promoting good health in the Seattle area: Kirkland, Bothel, Cuvall, Redmond, Bellevue 12911 120th avenue NE, suite c50, Kirkland, Washington 98034
internist
primary care physician
Home Page
Office Policies
Health Plans
Preventive Services
Immigration Physicals
Health Links
Walk of the week
Meet Dr. Reid
E-mail Dr. Reid
Get Directions
Preventive Services

The key to a healthy life is you.

You can prevent illness by taking good care of yourself:
  • Eat a well-balanced, spare diet
  • Exercise vigorously for 20 minutes at least three times a week.
  • Stretch your arms, legs, back and torso each day.
  • Develop your interests and your friendships.

We can help you:
  • There are certain immunizations that you should have.
  • We can give you good advice about important topics such as a proper diet or what you can do to sleep well.
  • Periodically I can give you a checkup to look for little problems that could become bigger problems if not treated early.
  • We can help you manage your chronic disease to help you minimize the complications of that disease.

When should you get a physical:

Many patients like to get a complete physical examination every year. Although this is fine, it is not necessary. Here is what we recommend if you are healthy and have no medical problems:

For Men:

Age 15-40: Annual BP checks (probably done when you are in the office for another reason.) A complete physical examination with fasting blood tests and urine specimen every 5 years or whenever you have gained 15 pounds.

Age 41-59: Annual BP checks (probably done when you are in the office for another reason.) A complete physical examination every 2 years.

Age > 60: Annual examination.

For Women:

Age 18-40: Annual BP checks (probably done when you are in the office for another reason.) Annual pap smears until three consecutive pap smears are normal; then every 2-3 years (although many women prefer to get a pap smear annual around their birthday so that they don’t forget). Complete physical examination every 5 years or if your non-pregnant weight has increased 10 pounds.

Age 41-59: Annual BP checks (probably done when you are in the office for another reason.) Annual pap smears (semiannual is ok if three consecutive pap smears have been normal.). Monthly self-examination of breasts with annual mammogram. Complete physical exam every 2 years.

Age>60: Annual examination.

Smokers: If you have smoked for 15 years, or if you have a family history of lung cancer, you may want to consider a chest x-ray annually. This procedure is not recommended by national panels as “cost-effective” (in other words, it’s cheaper to have an occasional person die of an undetected lung cancer that it is to take all of those x-rays.) However, it can pick up unsuspected cancers.

Cost:

A number of tests are “borderline” in terms of cost-effectiveness. They are able to pick up disease, but they are generally felt to be too costly to be used as a matter of public health policy. You should think about whether you would like to spend extra money to have these tests done before you come in for a complete physical exam. You can discuss these tests with Dr. Reid at that time.



promoting good health in Kirkland and surrounding areas         
family doctor supporting the Kirkland and Seattle area