What are the items included in a physical health examination?
Nov 05, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Lei
Introduction
Generally, a routine health checkup includes physical examination, blood tests, imaging studies, electrocardiogram (ECG), abdominal ultrasound, and others. Regular health checkups help detect abnormalities early; it is recommended to choose an appropriate checkup frequency based on individual circumstances. Prior to the examination, maintain a light diet the day before, and avoid alcohol consumption and staying up late.
Generally, routine health checkup items mainly include general physical examination, blood tests, imaging examinations, electrocardiogram (ECG), and abdominal ultrasound. Regular health checkups help detect physical abnormalities early, and it is recommended to choose an appropriate checkup frequency based on individual circumstances. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. General Physical Examination
Doctors assess basic physical conditions through inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, including measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure, as well as examinations of the skin, lymph nodes,五官 (eyes, ears, nose, mouth), heart and lungs via auscultation, and abdominal palpation. This helps preliminarily identify abnormalities such as body weight issues, high or low blood pressure, skin lesions, or basic heart, lung, or abdominal problems, providing direction for further testing.
2. Blood Tests
Common tests include complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical tests. CBC can reveal conditions such as anemia or infection; biochemical tests evaluate liver metabolism, kidney excretory function, blood glucose, and lipid levels, helping to detect diseases like diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and liver or kidney dysfunction.
3. Imaging Examinations
These typically include chest X-rays, with some individuals requiring additional CT scans. Chest X-rays allow observation of the lungs, thoracic cavity, and heart shape, helping to screen for pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung nodules, and structural thoracic abnormalities. CT scans offer higher resolution and can detect smaller lesions in greater detail, making them especially suitable for individuals with a family history of lung disease or long-term smokers.
4. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
By recording the heart's electrical activity, ECG evaluates cardiac rhythm and myocardial blood supply. It can detect arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and myocardial hypertrophy, serving as a fundamental test for screening heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. It is particularly important for middle-aged and elderly individuals or those experiencing cardiac symptoms.
5. Abdominal Ultrasound
This uses ultrasound waves to observe the morphology, size, and structure of abdominal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys. It helps detect organ enlargement, cysts, stones, tumors, and other abnormalities, such as liver cysts, gallstones, and kidney stones. Being non-invasive, it is suitable as a routine screening tool for abdominal organs.
Prior to undergoing a health checkup, it is important to eat light meals the day before, avoid alcohol and staying up late, and fast for 8–12 hours before certain tests. On the morning of the exam, do not eat or drink. After the examination, promptly collect your test reports. If any abnormal indicators are found, follow your doctor’s advice for further evaluation or lifestyle adjustments, schedule regular follow-up exams to monitor changes, and never ignore abnormal results or delay necessary actions.
