Why You Need an Annual Exam. In addition to catching disease in the earliest stages, the annual check-up allows your doctor to assess your risk factors for developing challenging health problems in the future. By talking with you about your lifestyle, eating, exercise and sleep habits, for example, you may discover you’re at risk for developing conditions such as: obesity, bronchitis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint pain, melanoma, lower back pain, knee pain. By identifying these risks, you can make changes to prevent the... read full review »