What should be included in a medical examination? Keep this checklist handy!
Health is the foremost wealth in life, and regular medical check-ups are a vital means of safeguarding this wealth. Through scientific and comprehensive examinations, we can timely understand our physical condition, identify potential health issues, and take appropriate preventive and treatment measures. This article will detail the three key steps of a medical examination to help you better manage your health.
I. Screening of Basic Health Indicators
Screening of basic health indicators serves as the starting point of a medical examination, aiming to assess an individual’s overall health status. These indicators include:
- Body Mass Index (BMI): Evaluating the healthiness of body shape, presence of obesity, or underweight issues through the ratio of height to weight.
- Blood Pressure: Measuring systolic and diastolic pressure to determine the presence of high or low blood pressure, crucial for cardiovascular health.
- Complete Blood Count: Assessing the health status of the blood system by examining various components in the blood such as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, which can indicate traces of anemia, infections, and other issues.
- Urinalysis: Evaluating kidney function and the health status of the urinary system by examining components in the urine such as proteins, glucose, white blood cells.
II. Organ Function and Disease Risk Assessment
Building upon basic indicator screening, further examination of organ functions and assessing the risk of specific diseases is conducted. These examinations include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Recording the heart’s electrical activity to evaluate whether the heart function is normal and to detect issues like arrhythmias.
- Chest X-ray: Examining the lungs and chest cavity to aid in early detection of lung diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or even lung cancer.
- Abdominal Ultrasound: Using sound waves to examine the morphology and function of abdominal organs like the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, crucial for detecting common diseases like fatty liver, gallstones, renal cysts.
- Biochemical Testing: Including tests for blood sugar, lipid levels, liver and kidney function, providing a comprehensive understanding of the body’s metabolism and visceral function.
III. Specialized Deep Testing and Personalized Guidance
Based on individual age, gender, health status, and family medical history, more targeted specialized examinations are conducted, along with personalized health guidance. These may include:
- Tumor Marker Screening: Early screening for specific types of cancers such as liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, to facilitate timely detection and intervention.
- Bone Density Testing: Evaluating bone strength and health status, crucial for preventing and treating osteoporosis.
- Endocrine-Related Testing: Assessing hormones like thyroid hormones, sex hormones to evaluate the endocrine system’s function, aiding in detecting issues like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, menopausal syndrome.
Upon completion of all examinations, a professional doctor will provide detailed interpretation of your results and personalized health advice. These recommendations may include dietary adjustments (such as low-salt, low-fat diet, increasing dietary fiber intake), lifestyle improvements (such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, increasing physical activity), and necessary medical interventions.
Through this comprehensive medical examination involving these three key steps, you can not only understand your health status but also receive professional guidance and assistance to better maintain your physical and mental well-being. Remember, regular medical check-ups are the guardians of health and should not be overlooked.