Medical history and physical examination

How does asking about my medical history help?

As the symptoms and signs of acromegaly may not always be immediately apparent, you may be asked several questions about your general health.

This might include asking about your history of high blood pressure and heart disease, and other endocrine conditions such as diabetes.

This is because acromegaly is associated with a number of other conditions – such as hypertension, sleep apnea and carpal tunnel syndrome to name three – which might be recognized first before there is a definite clue that you have an endocrine disorder.

Although most cases of acromegaly are not hereditary, you may also be asked about your family’s medical history, such as whether there is a family history of heart disease or diabetes, as this could impact your overall health as well.

What happens during a physical examination?

During a physical examination, your doctor will take a close look at your body and overall health in general.

Routine things that would be checked include your height, weight, your blood pressure and your heart rate.

You may be asked to lie down do that the doctor can feel your abdomen or other parts of your body to check for anything unusual that might be causing you trouble.

If you have noticed the start of any physical changes that you suspect might be due to acromegaly, such as heavy or prominent facial features or changes in the size of your feet or hands, it might help to show your doctor a series of photographs of yourself over the years for comparison.