The importance of health check-ups for early prevention and treatment of diseases

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of living standards, lifestyles have gradually changed, and the probability of chronic diseases has increased year by year. In recent years, the elderly population in my country has continued to increase, and the various physical functions of the elderly have gradually declined, which has continuously increased the risk of disease[1]. Health examinations can promptly detect potential abnormalities in the body, which is very helpful for timely diagnosis and control of diseases[2].

Physical examinations can screen important organs in the body when there are no obvious physical signs, making it easier to understand whether the body's various indicators are normal. Regular physical examinations can detect diseases that are still in the early stages, such as tumors and hyperlipidemia. If the disease is discovered in the early stages, the development of the disease can be controlled through early drug treatment, changes in lifestyle habits, etc. For existing diseases, such as metabolic diseases and malignant tumors, timely detection and timely treatment can be carried out, providing a basis for improved prognosis [3].

Studies have shown that the elderly group has higher rates of abnormal chest X-rays, abnormal electrocardiograms, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, and positive abdominal B-ultrasound than the middle-aged group, indicating that the older you are, the greater the probability of suffering from heart disease, high blood lipids, high blood pressure, etc. [4] Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people should have regular physical examinations to accurately understand their own body conditions, correct bad living habits, and actively cultivate good habits.

The following are the items that need to be checked during the physical examination of middle-aged and elderly people:

(1) Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular examination: This is the focus of the physical examination for middle-aged and elderly people. It includes blood pressure measurement, electrocardiogram, and brain CT examination to understand blood pressure, myocardial and cerebral blood supply, etc.

(2) Blood sugar and blood lipids: The elderly and middle-aged who are obese or suffer from hypertension or arteriosclerosis should pay more attention to timely check-ups.

(3) Color Doppler ultrasound and chest radiography: Color Doppler ultrasound can detect liver, gallbladder, or bladder tumors or stones. Color Doppler ultrasound of the neck can determine whether there are plaques on the inner wall of the carotid artery. Chest radiography can detect tuberculosis and lung cancer at an early stage.

Items that should be added:

(1) Check the fundus: It can detect cataracts and glaucoma in the middle-aged and elderly at an early stage. Patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes can check the fundus to see if their arteries are sclerotic.

(2) Bone density testing: Middle-aged and elderly people are prone to osteoporosis, so men over 50 and women over 45 should undergo bone density testing.

(3) Fecal occult blood test: People over 50 years old, especially middle-aged and elderly men, should include this test in their physical examination “supplementary list” to find out whether they have any digestive tract diseases.

(4) Checking tumor markers: Tumor markers should be a must-check item for middle-aged and elderly people. At the same time, as the incidence of cancer has tended to be younger in recent years, young people with family history or related risk factors should also pay attention to this type of examination.

Women have the highest probability of developing breast cancer, while men have the highest probability of developing prostate disease, followed by fatty liver. Regardless of gender, both men and women should have regular health checks to detect symptoms in a timely manner, receive timely treatment, and effectively prevent diseases.

Cancer screening in different parts corresponds to different auxiliary diagnoses:

(1) Thyroid cancer: Neck ultrasound

(2) Lung cancer: Low-dose spiral CT of the chest

(3) Breast cancer: B-ultrasound, mammography

(4) Cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer: B-ultrasound, cervical cytology (TCT), HPV virus testing

(5) Esophageal cancer and gastric cancer: gastroscopy

(6) Colorectal cancer: colonoscopy

(7) Liver cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer: B-ultrasound, CT

Regular physical examinations can help doctors understand the condition of the disease in a timely manner, so that doctors can provide timely and appropriate treatment, detect potential pathogenic factors in a timely manner, correct bad living habits, and reduce the occurrence of diseases. Regular health examinations for middle-aged and elderly people are crucial to the prevention and treatment of early-stage diseases and should be vigorously advocated and promoted.

References

[1] Liu Yuexia. Analysis of the effect of regular health examinations on improving health behaviors of the elderly[J]. Special Health, 2020, 9(19): 112-113.

[2] Yang Wenjing. Study on the importance of regular health examinations for early prevention and treatment of diseases[J]. Family Medicine·Medical Selection, 2020, 19(7): 352.

[3] Wang Tuya. Application of health examination nursing in healthy and sub-healthy people[J]. Psychological Monthly, 2019, 14(4):89.

[4] Mao Lidier Moledasheng. Study on the importance of regular health examinations for the early prevention and treatment of diseases among middle-aged and elderly people [J]. Health World, 2021, (01): 117-118.