More and more patients are staying on top of scheduling their annual physical exams for wellness exams.

That's according to a local physician who says there's no better time than now to be in control of your health. Don't be afraid to communicate with your physician and ask questions. In fact, it pays off in the long run.

Dr. Lorraine Tangen said, "The more control over their health problems, they better their general health and less the long-term consequences."

St. Benedicts official Christy Davies said, "I think a lot more physicians in general are doing a lot more to educate their patients so they know what to look for."

Doctor Tangen says that when patients are more involved in their care, they more likely to take their prescriptions regularly and be more involved in their overall health care process. Plus, there are also financial advantages to receiving wellness exams.

She said, "A lot more insurance companies are paying for wellness exams and for wellness labs so they make it easier for their patients to get these checks done and to have these exams done."

Alright, so this may seem like great information, but what is involved in a wellness exam?

"A wellness exam is usually a full physical exam for a female, includes a breast, pap, pelvic exam and for a male it probably includes a prostate exam."