PediatricsPediatrics
Physical examination
Physical examination
A physical examination, or health check-up, is a medical assessment of an individual's body using medical means and methods. Through a physical examination, one can understand their health status, detect some imperceptible early-stage diseases for early diagnosis and treatment, thereby achieving preventive and health-preserving goals.
Physical examination items are not uniform. The selection of examination items should be comprehensively determined based on gender, age, marital status, smoking history, family history, and past medical conditions.
All adults should have an annual physical examination.
Recommended examination items for different age groups are as follows:
Ages 18-29
This is generally the period of optimal health. During a physical examination, some basic items can be performed, including: BMI, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, urinary system ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, breast ultrasound (for women), complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and fasting blood glucose. For married women, a transvaginal ultrasound should be added, and cervical cytology screening should be performed every 3 years starting from age 21. If there is a history of smoking or a family history of lung cancer, a chest X-ray should be replaced with a low-dose lung CT.
Ages 30-39
Many people begin to experience overweight, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and the early signs of metabolic syndrome. Lung cancer screening should also begin. Recommended examination items include: BMI, blood pressure, low-dose lung CT, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, urinary system ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, breast ultrasound (for women), complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function tests, kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, five thyroid function tests, homocysteine, and uric acid. For married women, a transvaginal ultrasound, cervical cytology screening, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing should be added (if the initial test is negative, retest every 3 years).
Ages 40-49
The incidence of various cancers begins to increase, and cancer screening should begin, focusing on lung cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer. Recommended examination items include: BMI, blood pressure, low-dose lung CT, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, urinary system ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, mammography (for women), painless gastroscopy and colonoscopy (if the initial test is negative, retest every 5 years), complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function tests, kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood lipids, five thyroid function tests, homocysteine, uric acid, alpha-fetoprotein, and carcinoembryonic antigen. For married women, a transvaginal ultrasound, cervical cytology screening, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing should be added (if the initial test is negative, retest every 3 years).
Ages 50-59
The incidence of prostate cancer increases in men, and women enter menopause. Recommended examination items include: BMI, blood pressure, low-dose lung CT, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, urinary system ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, mammography (for women), painless gastroscopy and colonoscopy (if the initial test is negative, retest every 5 years), bone density, complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function tests, kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood lipids, five thyroid function tests, homocysteine, uric acid, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and prostate-specific antigen. For married women, a transvaginal ultrasound, cervical cytology screening, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing should be added (if the initial test is negative, retest every 3 years).
Ages 60-69
Screening for cerebrovascular diseases should be added. Recommended examination items include: BMI, blood pressure, low-dose lung CT, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, urinary system ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, carotid artery ultrasound, brain MRI (every 3 years), mammography (for women), painless gastroscopy and colonoscopy (if the initial test is negative, retest every 5 years), bone density, complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function tests, kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood lipids, five thyroid function tests, homocysteine, uric acid, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and prostate-specific antigen. For married women, a transvaginal ultrasound, cervical cytology screening, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing should be added (if the initial test is negative, retest every 3 years; screening can be stopped at age 65 if previous screenings were negative).
Ages 70-79
The overall incidence of tumors in this age group is slightly reduced compared to previous age groups, and physical examination items can be appropriately reduced. Recommended examination items include: blood pressure, low-dose lung CT, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, urinary system ultrasound, carotid artery ultrasound, brain MRI (every 3 years), breast ultrasound, bone density, complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function tests, kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood lipids, five thyroid function tests, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and prostate-specific antigen. For women, a transvaginal ultrasound and cervical cytology screening should be added.
Ages 80 and above
It is recommended to conduct targeted regular examinations based on physical condition and personal wishes, referring to previous examination results.
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