what does"turn your head and cough" mean when reffering to military medical exam?
C.O.P
2010-10-22 14:40:36 UTC
turn your head and cough-- what does that mean? i've seen ppl write that before but never knew the meaning.
Nine answers:
AD
2010-10-22 14:44:26 UTC
When you're getting your exam the doctor puts his fingers in your groin area and tells you to turn your head and cough to check for a hernia.
Rockerr
2016-03-12 05:40:03 UTC
I took two of these physicals for the military. This specific exam is not for your prostate. You don't need to cough for that as the doctor is just feeling how hard the prostate is and if it's enlarged. The military "turn your head and cough" test is to detect if you have a hernia, which is a tear in the tissues that hold up the intestines. If there is, the intestines can hang too low in you abdomen and even hook around one of your pelvic bones causing great discomfort. Soldiers can't fight with hernias. The exam involves a doctor sticking two fingers through your scrotal sack past your testicles and up into the lower chamber of your abdomen. Asking you to cough causes your muscles to tighten and he'll be able to feel if you have a hernia or not. It's not about disks or prostate, but hernia.
Stephen R
2010-10-22 14:44:24 UTC
I tend to refer to that as The "How's it Hangin'?" Test. I don't know what they're checking for specifically, but the doctor is checking the guy's testicles when he asks him to cough.
(And despite other responses -- no, it's not an anal exam.)
(Edit: Oooookay. Is there more than one "turn your head and cough" test? Seems to be a lot of rectal exan responses. Either way, embarrassing and uncomfortable.)
Pete T
2010-10-22 16:55:16 UTC
They are checking for a hernia. Bend over and spread em , they are checking for an enlarged prostate. However , one needs to look behind him and make sure that is a gloved finger they are using , not another part of the anatomy.
Greg
2010-10-22 14:42:34 UTC
'Turn your head and cough' is what doctors say before checking if you have a herniated disk.
The vibrations from the cough will tell if a hernia exists. He tells you to turn your head so you don't cough in his face.
Chris A
2010-10-22 14:59:49 UTC
The same thing it means when referring to any other physical.