Silver Age Health | What items should the elderly pay attention to in health checkups

Health check-up is an important means for the elderly to reduce the risk of disease, improve treatment effects and enhance the quality of life. It is also a guarantee for enjoying a healthier and better life. Faced with a variety of health check-up items, how to choose? How to check?

▏ Routine physical examination items for the elderly <br /> 1. Basic physical examination Basic physical examination is the first step of physical examination, including the measurement of height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and other indicators. These indicators can preliminarily judge the overall health status of the elderly, such as whether there are problems such as obesity and high blood pressure.
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a common method for detecting cardiac electrical activity, which can detect problems such as arrhythmia and myocardial ischemia. For the elderly, cardiovascular disease is a common health problem, so ECG examination is particularly important.
3. Routine blood test Routine blood test is a method of evaluating physical condition by testing blood components. It can understand whether the elderly's red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and other indicators are normal, so as to determine whether there are anemia, infection and other diseases.
4. Urinalysis Urinalysis is a method of evaluating the health of the urinary system by testing the composition of urine. It can detect whether the elderly have urinary tract infections, diabetes and other problems.
5. Biochemical test Biochemical test is a method to evaluate the function of internal organs by detecting biochemical indicators in the blood. It can understand whether the liver and kidney function, blood sugar, blood lipids and other indicators of the elderly are normal, so as to judge whether there are liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes and other diseases.
6. Imaging examinations Imaging examinations include X-rays, ultrasound, CT, etc., which can visually observe the internal organs and blood vessels of the elderly. These examinations can detect whether the elderly have tumors, stones, vascular stenosis and other problems.

▏General condition assessment <br /> General condition assessment is the basis of physical examination for the elderly. This includes the measurement of basic indicators such as height, body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate, lung capacity, hearing, vision, etc. Through these indicators, doctors can have a preliminary understanding of the physical function and health status of the elderly. At the same time, the elderly also need to undergo routine examinations such as electrocardiogram, blood routine, urine routine, biochemistry, etc. to detect potential health problems.
Psychological status assessment is also an important part of the physical examination of the elderly. As they age, their psychological status may also change, such as memory loss, mood swings, etc. Therefore, during the physical examination, doctors need to pay attention to the psychological status of the elderly, evaluate their psychological status through psychological tests, questionnaires, etc., and provide necessary psychological intervention and support.

▏Physical Examination <br /> The physical examination will first focus on the elderly's basic vital signs to check their overall health status and whether they have any infection, heart disease or respiratory problems.
Next, the doctor will conduct a detailed physical examination. Starting from the head, the doctor will check the elderly's eyes, ears, nose and mouth to observe whether there are problems such as decreased vision, hearing loss, rhinitis or oral diseases. The doctor will also check the elderly's neck to observe whether the thyroid gland is enlarged and whether there is a bruit in the carotid artery.
During the chest examination, the doctor will listen to the heart and lungs to check for abnormalities such as heart murmurs and lung rales. The abdominal examination focuses on whether there is tenderness or mass in the abdomen, as well as the size and texture of the liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Examination of the limbs and spine is also an important part. The doctor will check the muscle strength of the elderly's limbs, the range of motion of the joints, and whether there is curvature or tenderness in the spine. These examinations can help detect problems such as arthritis and osteoporosis.
In addition, doctors will also examine the elderly's nervous system, including muscle strength, muscle tone, tendon reflexes, pathological reflexes, etc., to assess whether there are neurological diseases.
In addition to the above, physical examinations for the elderly may also include digital rectal examinations, prostate examinations (for men), and breast examinations (for women) to further identify potential health problems.

▏Laboratory examination <br /> First, a routine blood test is essential. It can assess anemia, infection, etc. in the elderly by detecting the number and morphology of various cells in the blood.
Secondly, urine routine examination is also a common examination item. By observing the composition and form of urine, we can understand the kidney function and urinary system condition of the elderly.
In addition, biochemical tests are also an important part of the physical examination for the elderly. By testing blood sugar, blood lipids, liver function, kidney function and other indicators in the blood, the metabolic status of the elderly can be evaluated and diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, and kidney disease can be prevented.
In addition, electrocardiogram is also a common laboratory test item in the physical examination of the elderly. It can reflect the electrophysiological activity of the heart of the elderly and help detect heart disease.

▏Imaging examination <br /> Including chest CT, abdominal ultrasound, etc. Chest CT can detect diseases such as pneumonia, lung nodules, and emphysema; abdominal B-ultrasound can examine the morphology and function of organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and kidneys.
Physical examination items that require special attention. In addition to the above routine physical examination items, the elderly should also pay special attention to the following physical examination items:
1. Bone density test As people age, their bones will gradually change, so the elderly need to pay special attention to bone health. Bone density test is one of the important means to assess bone health, so the elderly should pay special attention to bone density test during physical examinations.
Bone density test is a method of evaluating bone health by measuring the mineral content in bones. Through bone density test, we can understand the strength, hardness and stability of bones, so as to timely detect and prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
The elderly are at high risk of osteoporosis, which can cause bones to become thinner, weaker, and more fragile, seriously affecting their quality of life. Therefore, the elderly should have regular bone density checks to understand their bone health and detect bone diseases such as osteoporosis in a timely manner, so as to take appropriate treatment measures to maintain bone health. The elderly should pay attention to bone health care in their daily lives. For example, moderate exercise can enhance the strength and hardness of bones and prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis; a reasonable diet can ensure that bones get enough nutrition and maintain normal bone metabolism; avoiding long periods of sitting or lying in bed can reduce the burden on bones and prevent the occurrence of bone diseases.
2. Fundus examination Fundus examination can not only detect eye diseases, but also provide important basis for the prevention and treatment of systemic diseases. First of all, fundus examination can detect eye diseases in time. The elderly are prone to eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. If these diseases are not treated in time, they may cause vision loss or even blindness. Fundus examination can detect these eye diseases in time by observing changes in the structures of fundus blood vessels, retina, etc., providing strong support for early treatment.
Secondly, fundus examination can also provide important basis for the prevention and treatment of systemic diseases. Many systemic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis, will leave corresponding pathological traces in the fundus. Through fundus examination, doctors can understand the overall health status of the elderly and discover potential health problems in time, so as to take corresponding preventive and therapeutic measures to avoid further deterioration of the disease.
Finally, fundus examination can assess the vision of the elderly and provide them with appropriate vision correction plans to avoid life inconveniences and safety hazards caused by vision problems.
3. Cardiac Ultrasound Cardiac Ultrasound is a non-invasive and safe examination method that can clearly show the structure and function of the heart through high-frequency sound wave imaging technology. This examination can detect many heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, etc. In the elderly, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases due to decreased vascular elasticity, arteriosclerosis, etc., so cardiac ultrasound examination is particularly important.
Through cardiac ultrasound examination, doctors can understand the size, shape, wall thickness and heart valve condition of the elderly. If abnormalities are found, doctors can conduct further examinations, such as electrocardiogram, cardiac angiography, etc., to make a clear diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. This is of great significance for preventing and treating heart disease and protecting the health of the elderly.
In addition, the elderly also need to pay attention to regular cardiac ultrasound examinations. As age increases, heart function gradually weakens, and regular physical examinations can detect potential problems in time to prevent the condition from worsening. At the same time, the elderly should also maintain good living habits, such as a reasonable diet, moderate exercise, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
IV. Gastroenteroscopy Gastroenteroscopy is a method of directly observing the internal conditions of the digestive tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, by inserting a gastroscope through the oral or nasal cavity. It can detect many digestive tract diseases, such as gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer. These diseases have a higher incidence rate in the elderly, and the symptoms are often not obvious, so they are easily ignored. Therefore, gastroscopy can detect diseases early and provide strong support for treatment.
However, many elderly people are afraid of gastroscopy, and are worried about side effects such as pain and discomfort. In fact, with the continuous advancement of medical technology, gastroscopy is becoming safer and more comfortable. Many hospitals have also launched painless gastroscopy, which uses anesthetic drugs to make patients feel painless during the examination, greatly reducing the pain of patients.
Of course, not every elderly person needs to undergo gastroscopy. Generally speaking, regular gastroscopy is recommended for elderly people with high-risk factors such as gastrointestinal symptoms, family history of gastrointestinal diseases, and long-term use of certain medications. At the same time, before undergoing a gastroscopy, the elderly should inform the doctor of their medical history, history of drug allergies, and other information so that the doctor can better assess the risk and develop an examination plan.
5. Intracranial vascular examination Intracranial blood vessels are important channels for supplying blood to the brain. Once problems occur, serious consequences may occur, such as stroke, cerebral thrombosis, etc. These diseases not only affect the physical health of the elderly, but may also lead to cognitive decline and affect their daily lives. Therefore, it is crucial for the elderly to regularly perform intracranial vascular examinations to detect and deal with potential problems in a timely manner.
Intracranial vascular examinations mainly include ultrasound, CT angiography, magnetic resonance angiography and other methods. These examinations can help doctors understand the condition of the elderly's intracranial blood vessels, such as whether the blood vessel walls are smooth, whether the blood vessels are narrowed or blocked, etc. Once an abnormality is found, the doctor can intervene in time to prevent the condition from worsening. The elderly should pay more attention to this examination item, conduct regular examinations, and promptly discover and deal with potential problems.
In addition to medical examinations, the elderly should also pay attention to some details in daily life, such as maintaining good work and rest habits, a reasonable diet structure, moderate exercise, etc., which will help maintain the health of intracranial blood vessels.

▏Health check-ups for the elderly should focus on comprehensiveness and pertinence <br /> Comprehensiveness is reflected in the comprehensive coverage of routine check-up items. Pertinence is reflected in the attention paid to health problems unique to the elderly. A reasonable check-up plan can detect diseases early and intervene in time, providing scientific health management suggestions for the elderly to improve their quality of life.
(Picture from the Internet)
Author | Han Mei is a practicing pharmacist who has worked in a well-known national tertiary hospital for more than 30 years and has rich medical care experience. She has represented the hospital on many occasions to go out for exchanges and study. She is an expert in food hygiene and nutrition, has a national nutritionist qualification, and is a science enthusiast.