The periodic health examination: a challenge for the family physician.

During the past 50 years, there has been increasing expectation by patients and physicians that serious disease is preventable by early diagnosis. Unfortunately, the value of screening by X-rays, electrocardiogram, cytologic smears, and biochemistry has yet to be proven.The family physician should concentrate his efforts more on preventable disease caused by poor diet, exercise levels, or life style and by closely monitoring blood pressure.