After the age of 60, regular physical examinations are not about doing more and more; rather, it's about being "precise" - conducting the necessary tests in a targeted manner, which is truly responsible for one's health.
For a physical examination after the age of 60, these 4 tests should be conducted.
1、Blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipids
High blood sugar often doesn't cause immediate discomfort, but it is a "hidden killer". If blood sugar remains out of control for a long time, diabetes will sneak up on you, and the complications it brings are not simple at all.
The danger of hypertension lies in its long-term "erosion" of the blood vessels. Over time, the heart, brain, and kidneys will all be affected, increasing the risk of serious conditions such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
If blood lipid levels remain high for a long time, fat will gradually accumulate within the arteries, forming plaques, which leads to arteriosclerosis and further increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
2. Liver and kidney function tests
The liver is the metabolic factory of the human body. It works diligently every day, despite having a strong ability for self-repair. However, excessive fatigue or external stimuli, such as long-term medication use, poor dietary habits, and alcohol intake, can all cause damage to it.
Because the liver lacks pain receptors, many people may not be aware of their impaired liver function. By the time symptoms such as jaundice and liver pain occur, the disease may have progressed to an advanced stage, and there is a risk of liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
The kidneys are the "filters" of the human body. When there is a problem with the kidneys, the initial symptoms are not obvious.
Many people do not realize that their kidney function has declined until they experience severe swelling, reduced urine output, and elevated blood pressure.
3. Bone density measurement
As people grow older, many elderly people find themselves becoming increasingly "fragile". They might stumble and fall just by standing up without paying attention, or even suffer fractures from a gentle touch.
Through bone density tests, if it is found that bone loss is happening relatively quickly, measures such as taking calcium supplements and increasing vitamin D intake can be taken promptly according to the doctor's advice to replenish the lost calcium.
4. Focus on screening for malignant tumors
As one gets older, the "components" of the body start to become tired as well. Especially for malignant tumors, the risk of getting the disease is much higher for people in this age group compared to when they were younger.
The tumor screening program is not something that everyone needs to undergo extensively. Instead, it should be determined based on individual circumstances.
For instance, people with a long history of smoking should focus on lung cancer screening;
those with gastrointestinal discomfort or a family history of tumors can regularly undergo gastroscopy and colonoscopy;
and those with chronic liver diseases should pay special attention to liver cancer screening.
Overall, physical examinations for people over 60 should be targeted and focused on conducting the truly necessary tests. This should make the examinations an effective tool for detecting health problems, rather than a source of psychological comfort or a burden.
