The medical check-up corresponds to the periodic accomplishment of several clinical, imaging and laboratorial examinations with the objective of evaluating the general state of health and early diagnosis of some disease that has not yet manifested symptoms, for example.
The frequency of check-up should be established by the general or average clinician accompanying the patient and varies according to the person's health status, history of illness and illness in the family. Thus, it is usually indicated that the tests are performed at the following frequency:
- Healthy adults : every 2 years;
- People with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or cancer: every 6 months;
- People with risk factors for some disease, such as obese people, smokers, sedentary or high cholesterol: 1 time per year.
It is also important that people who are at risk for heart problems should pay special attention to health, always being alert to changes in the body, with easy fatigue or chest pain, for example. In addition, it is also indicated that women over 40 and men over 30 undergo specific tests. See when to go to the cardiologist.
Most Common Exams
The tests requested at check-up allow the doctor to check the functioning of some organs, such as kidneys, liver and heart, for example, as well as being useful in identifying infections and changes in the blood, such as anemia and leukemia, for example.
The main exams are:
- Fasting glycemia;
- Blood count;
- Urea and creatinine;
- Uric acid;
- Total cholesterol and fractions;
- Triglycerides;
- TGO / AST and TGP / ALT;
- TSH and free T4;
- Alkaline phosphatase;
- Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT);
- PCR;
- Urine analysis;
- Stool examination.
In addition to these tests, other tests may be ordered according to the general health of the person, such as transferrin, ferritin, tumor markers and sex hormones. In relation to the radiological examinations, the doctor is usually requested to perform abdominal ultrasonography, chest X-ray, echo and electrocardiogram and ophthalmologic examinations. In the case of diabetic patients, the examination of glycated hemoglobin, which evaluates the amount of circulating glucose in the three-month period, may also be requested. See what glycated hemoglobin is for.
1. Check-up for women
In the case of women, it is important to have specific tests, such as Pap smear, colposcopy, vulvoscopy, breast ultrasonography and transvaginal ultrasonography performed annually, preferably. From these examinations, the gynecologist can check if the woman has any infection, cyst or alteration in the reproductive system. Find out which gynecological exams are usually ordered.
2. Check-up for men
It is recommended that men from the age of 40 perform specific tests such as prostate ultrasound and PSA hormone dosage. Here's how to understand the PSA exam.
3. Check-in for smokers
In the case of smokers, for example, in addition to the tests usually requested, it is recommended the measurement of some tumor markers, such as alphafetoprotein, CEA and CA 19.9, spirometry with respiratory function evaluation, electrocardiogram with stress test, and sputum analysis with cancer cells.
