What is a full body checkup – Your health checkup guide

Congratulations! You have finally prioritised your health.

After contemplating long enough upon taking up a full body checkup, you have landed on the right place that aids you with all its nitty-gritty. 

While being caught up in the hectic lifestyle of the modern world, taking care of your eating habits takes the backseat. However, no matter what glories you yield by making the best of your time, everything is in vain if it is at the cost of your health.

To keep up with the fast-paced city life, it is conventional for people to suffer from ailments like blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, etc. 

However, if you believe in the old dictum that ‘health is wealth’, let no appointments and meetings stop you from getting your health assessed.

You can do it by simply opting for a full body health checkup, which detects serious medical ailments at an initial stage. However, if the same conditions are diagnosed late, they may unfold into severe complications.

So to save yourself from such a grave situation, you should go for a full-body health checkup. This test is firmly advised if your lifestyle is characterised by negative patterns like smoking, heavy drinking, obesity, no physical exercise, or a family history of chronic diseases.

Knowledge is the key to good health. Hence, acquainting yourself with everything important to your health via a full body checkup. 

Before actually taking up the test, many queries might arise in your mind regarding a full body check-up. It is time for us to resolve all of them.

The blog answers the following queries in detail:

• What is a full body checkup?
• Why opt for a full-body checkup?
• What does a full-body checkup cover?
• What happens in a full-body checkup?
• How many tests are there in a full-body check-up?
• Briefs of the tests included in a full body health check-up
• How frequently should you do a full body checkup?
• Precautions / Preparation before a full body checkup
• Full body checkup price range in India.

What is a full body checkup?

A full body checkup, also known as a physical examination, refers to medical screening of the entire body to detect potential and existing health problems. 

It generally includes several basic and advanced diagnostic tests for all body systems. These are aimed at knowing whether various organs and tissue systems of the body are functioning accurately or not. It then builds upon a detailed study of liver function, kidney function, lipid profile, etc. 

Some tests included in the full-body checkup are specifically to gauge particular risks related to general conditions, such as cancer or diabetes. In addition, physicians advise physical examinations to treat current disorders based on diagnosed symptoms in other cases. 

A full body checkup is thus a complete medical evaluation of a person’s health and body. And therefore, this test also functions as the most reliable preventive health measure, which can identify pre-existing health issues and advise early treatment. 

With its comprehensive and holistic approach, a full body checkup is preliminary in assessing an individual’s health in a detailed fashion. All the various tests and screenings included help prevent diseases and even chronic disorders before they culminate into any life-threatening ailment. 

To be just as comprehensive as the test is, a full-body health checkup improves your quality of life. 

Why opt for a full-body checkup?

If you are to opt for a full-body checkup but are dicey about its outcome, here are several benefits of the same:

1. Detects disorders at an early stage:

If you want to sustain a long and healthy life, preventative health care is essential. And this can only be substantiated via a full body checkup. Because although imaging is consistently used in healthcare activities like the NHS, MRI, etc., diagnostic imaging is carried out only when patients are diagnosed with existing symptoms already. 

Owing to this condition, it is very likely that a patient might have reached a regressive state of the disorder, especially in asymptomatic cases. This makes the disease hard to treat. 

On the other hand, pre-existing and potential health issues can be determined by undergoing a full body checkup. 

2. Rapid recovery:

Since diseases and associated complications can be traced in time, they can also be treated in time. This can lead to a significantly higher recovery rate. In addition, this test provides the doctors with an all-inclusive health status to recognise early warning signs. And immediately recommend you take better and proper medication.

3. Minimal critical procedures:

Detecting health issues at primitive stages often saves the patient from undergoing acute treatment like complicated surgeries. Instead, the same disorders can be treated effectively using minimally invasive procedures. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. also maintains that ‘it is far better to prevent disease than to treat people after they get sick. 

4. Know your health status:

Even if you do not suspect the prevalence of any ailment, you can get a detailed update of your health status with a periodic checkup. Since this test caters to different parameters like cholesterol, blood sugar levels, body weight, and blood pressure, you can improve your overall lifestyle. 

5. Encourages a healthy lifestyle:

It is important to have a healthy lifestyle for a healthy body. And that can only be attained if you identify the gaps between being unhealthy to staying fit. By going through a full-body health checkup, know all your health concerns and alter your lifestyle accordingly.

6. Increases your lifespan:

As per a report, in India, many people die because they do not know about their health issues, even mild disorders. Do not be one among them. Enhance the validity of your life through a full body checkup. With its early detection of diseases to early treatment and a better lifestyle, it works comprehensively to increase your lifespan. 

What does a full-body checkup cover?

We understand how confusing and overwhelming it can be to wrap your head around all tests a full body checkup has. Hence, let us demystify this for you!

A full body checkup includes all the tests that assess a person’s health. It includes certain tests that check blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and the existence of infections if any.

A full body checkup also involves tests that are instrumental in evaluating your lungs, heart, blood vessels, other organs and systems of your body. In addition, it may consist of early detection of cancer, stroke, and various other conditions with a periodic checkup. 

In a full-body check, a particular test or screening may be undertaken more than once on a particular body area. This is to ensure an accurate assessment of the body. 

Furthermore, with a comprehensive physical examination and screenings, full-body checkups also include vital sign checks. Vital signs are basic tests which are beneficial in monitoring and detecting medical conditions. It includes tests aimed at gauging pulse, body temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, etc. 

Additional tests can also include various food intolerances, cancer markers, deficiencies, and allergy profiles depending on existing conditions and examination. 

In a nutshell, some of the most common tests which are more or less a part of a majority of packages are stool test, urine routine analysis, X-Ray, ECG, TMT, abdominal ultrasonography, Pap smear (for women), etc. 

However, depending on your age, health history and sex, your doctor might recommend screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), diabetes, and other diseases.

What happens in a full-body checkup?

Most people are apprehensive about taking up a full-body health checkup because they are so nerve-wrecked. So here’s saving you from the uncertainty of what you would go through under the test. This section deals with the detailed procedure of the test.

1. Answer the questionnaire:

Before a full body checkup, you’ll be required to complete a medical questionnaire. This questionnaire includes questions on your medical history, health conditions, lifestyle, etc., which must be answered aptly. All in all, it enables the physician or the diagnostic centre to assess your health needs. It is also to identify any potential risk factors that your body or your body organ might be prone to. 

2. Sign the consent form:

Before conducting the test, the physician will ask for the patient’s written consent. If the patient’s sex is different from the doctor’s, a chaperone may be required. For example, this is mostly when a male doctor inspects a female patient. 

Consent is extremely important because somebody’s parts will usually need to be exposed. However, during the test, the doctor will try his best to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible. But sometimes, tender spots need to be examined via touching for reliable and accurate diagnosis.

3. Vital signs:

As mentioned above, the full-body checkup usually starts with the vital signs, including examining the blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature.

4. Physical examination:

The main procedure of the physical examination can be categorised into four parts. And these are as follows:

• Inspection: looking for signs
• Palpation: feeling for signs by checking the body using hands.
• Percussion: tapping the surface with fingers or a plessor over the surface to look for signs (majorly used while conducting a lung and/or gut examination).
• Auscultation: Using the stethoscope to gauge the condition via hearing.[In older times, it was done directly with ears)

5. Tests:

For the initial procedure, you must go on an empty stomach. It is then that the urine and stool samples are taken. A blood sample is also taken. After that, an ECG, blood tests, and other basic tests are generally carried out first. 

After that, all advanced tests will be conducted, whereby CT scans (if applicable) will be performed, followed by ultrasound and MRI. 

Depending on the calibre of the doctor, the sequence of the procedure and tests covered might be different. And also, not all of the stages and tests will be conducted. Because a full body health checkup generally strives to majorly detect the diseases

the patient has presently or possible diseases which are yet to be diagnosed. However, a majority of those are there.

6. Post-examination:

All scans and their reports will be reviewed by the physician, specialist doctors and experienced radiologists who will trace any abnormalities if they prevail. After that, the patient will be informed about the clinical findings by the doctor. 

Then, coupling it with the patient’s clinical history, the doctor will proceed to further diagnosis and investigations. This also helps to chalk further procedures to manage the disease. Finally, if everything is well and good, certain recommendations regarding lifestyle can be made.

It is important to know that the full body checkup usually takes only a day. 

How many tests are there in a full-body check-up?

Depending on your sex, the package and the diagnostic centre you choose, the number of tests in a full body check-up varies. However, generally, it includes 18-19 tests, both basic and advanced.

The section below explores the most prominent tests, along with their details.

1. CBC:

Abbreviated as CBC, a complete blood count, is a medical test that determines the number of cells that form your blood, which is:

• Red blood cells: that carry oxygen
• White blood cells: which fight against infection
• Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells essential to ensure the efficient functioning of the body. 
• Haemoglobin: the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells
• Platelets: help with the blood clotting.

This test aims to:

•  Check anaemia, a condition characterised by a low count of red blood cells.
• Detect if you have any other health issues or are experiencing symptoms like fever, weakness, nausea, bruising, fatigue, inflammation, etc.
• Assess your blood condition.
• See how medical conditions, medications, or treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy impact your blood.
• To evaluate your overall health.

2. Blood Sugar:

The blood sugar test tracks the percentage of sugar present in your blood. It is majorly to detect every medication and condition related to diabetes. It is performed at two stages: F (Fasting) and PP(Post Prandial). 

• The fasting stage will provide vital information on how your body is managing your blood sugar levels. 
• The Post Prandial test will give information on the percentage of glucose present in your blood immediately after a meal. 

3. Urea | Creatinine:

The Urea Creatinine test examines the urea creatinine ratio of your body. It is an indicator of the optimal functioning of the kidney. 

If the kidneys do not work properly, they do not filter creatinine and urea nitrogen. Both of these are important waste products of broken-down proteins and foods. 

Hence, in the case of people who suffer from kidney failure, the level of urea or creatinine is very low in their urine. But, at the same time, the higher levels are quite high. The urea creatinine test detects the proportion of these.

4. Lipid Profile:

A lipid profile, also known as a lipid panel, is a panel of blood tests to check abnormalities in your lipids. Lipids refer to fats that do not dissolve in the blood. 

A lipid profile includes tests like Total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and Triglycerides.

High lipid levels increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, heart attack or stroke. In addition, this test identifies genetic diseases and can determine potential risks for certain types of pancreatitis, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases.

5. Liver Function Test:

A liver function test is also known as liver chemistries. It measures the proportion of proteins, bilirubin and liver enzymes in the blood. 

Some common liver function tests are Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Bilirubin, Albumin and total protein, Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Prothrombin time (PT), L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD), etc. These are instrumental in the overall evaluation of the health condition of your liver. 

As the test result goes, either high or low levels of the enzymes mentioned above and proteins can indicate a problem with your liver. Consequently, liver function test is also essential to monitor the treatment and progression of an already existing liver disease. 

6. Uric Acid Test:

A uric acid blood test is also referred to as a serum uric acid measurement. Uric acid is a chemical produced by the body when it churns foods containing organic compounds called purines. 

This test determines the level of uric acid present in the blood. In addition, the production and removal of uric acid by the body are also determined by this test.

The purpose of the uric acid test is to:

• monitor and diagnose people with gout.
• Check the functioning of the kidney after an injury.
• Monitor people undergoing radiation treatment or chemotherapy.
• Find the cause behind kidney stones.
• Diagnose disorders related to the kidney.

7. HBA1C:

HbA1c is the average blood sugar (glucose) levels in your body in the past 2-3 months of the test.

Thus, the haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test detects the proportion of blood sugar (glucose) attached to your haemoglobin.

The HbA1c test is a crucial blood test indicating how much your diabetes is maintained and controlled. It is one of the tests recommended by the WHO to diagnose diabetes. 

8. Thyroid Function Test:

Thyroid function tests are several blood tests used to measure how efficiently your thyroid gland is working. It includes tests including the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH.

These tests are to detect if your thyroid gland is producing too many hormones or producing them in an insufficient quantity. 

9. Urine Routine:

The urine routine test is a series of tests performed on the urine sample. It comprises the chemical, physical, and microscopic examination of your urine. 

A urine routine test is conducted to detect any kidney diseases, disorders and infections prevalent in the urinary tract. It also aims to identify diseases that lead to an abnormal breakdown of products that might be passed on through the body and into the urine. 

This test reports the presence of sugar, proteins and ketones. It is an efficient way to track any developing disorders related to liver, kidney and diabetes at an initial stage.

10. Stool Routine ECG:

Stool Routine ECG is also known as a stool sample test and faecal sample test. It is essential in diagnosing medical conditions like colon or stomach cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, piles, and anal fissures. 

Based on your stool sample helps identify the presence of blood in it. This test also evaluates if microorganisms or any bacteria are contaminating your intestines.

11. 2DEcho:

2D echo, also known as 2D echocardiography, is a non-invasive inspection used to examine the functioning of your heart. It uses sound vibrations to create images of the sections of your heart, which then helps assess the damages, blood flow rate and blockages in your heart.

It helps a cardiologist to plan the course of treating all the malfunctions of your heart by detecting heart conditions like 

• Blood clots, congenital heart disorders and tumours
• Heart abnormalities
• Abnormality in the blood flow of the heart
• Malfunctioning related to the heart valve

12. Chest X-ray:

A chest X-ray is an imaging test which uses X-rays to examine the organs and structures in your chest. 

This test uses a small dose of ionising radiation, which produces pictures of the internals of the chest. It is to assess your heart, lungs, and chest wall.

Chest X-ray is the most commonly used test to diagnose persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, or injury. It may also be used to diagnose several lung conditions like emphysema, pneumonia, and cancer. 

13. USG of Whole Abdomen:

Ultrasound is an imaging test which uses sound waves and a handheld transducer. A special gel is applied to a specific area, over the whole abdomen in this test, and a device then captures pictures of the soft tissues inside the abdomen.

An abdominal ultrasound test is to examine the unborn baby through the entire course of pregnancy. Therefore, this test is also called a prenatal ultrasound.

Abdominal ultrasound may be used to determine the cause of unexplained abdomen pain. This test helps diagnose kidney stones, blood clots, enlarged spleen, bladder stones, gallstones, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, abdominal aortic aneurysm, fatty liver disease, etc. 

14. PFT:

A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) is a noninvasive test that examines if the lungs are functioning properly. This test measures capacity, volume, rate of blood flow, and gas exchange of your lungs. The information about these can be useful in diagnosing and planning the treatment of various lung disorders.

It can also diagnose your health problems like

• Respiratory infections
• Allergies
• Uneven breathing
• Asthma, emphysema, bronchiectasis, or chronic bronchitis.
• Asbestosis
• Tumours, scoliosis, scarring or inflammation of the lungs
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma

15.  PSA:

A PSA or a Prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test examines the proportion of the PSA in your blood. 

This test is recommended for its usefulness which includes:

• Detecting prostate cancer before any symptoms are apparent.
• It can identify rapidly multiplying cancer cells at an early stage.
• It could also detect an increase in your PSA count.

16. Pap Smear:

A Pap smear test, also known as a Pap test, is a procedure which aims to detect cervical cancer in women.

A pap smear is conducted to examine changes in the cervical cells before they develop into cancer. This early detection can prevent you from your grave stages of cancer.

17. Physician Consultation:

A physical consultation is chiefly an appointment between a physician and a patient. This consultation aims to discuss the outcome of the full-body check-up, diagnose disorders, prevalent health conditions, and the future course of lifestyle, medication, and treatment. It is because you ought to know all the details associated with your health with clarity.

18. Dietician Consultation:

A dietitian consultation session is a confidential therapy session. It is a one-to-one talk with a dietician about improving your health conditions by altering your eating habits. It is all about a certain nutrition consumption that would aid your health and prevent or cure health disorders if detected. 

19. Consultation with Physical Wellness Expert:

A consultation with a physical wellness expert is a conversation between you and the expert focused on the wellness and care of your body. It is especially based upon the full body check-up and its report. 

It includes discussions on hormonal imbalance, nutrient and vitamin deficiencies, antioxidant support, immune system support, metabolic enhancement, etc. 

What does a full body checkup detect?

Based on the tests mentioned above, a full body checkup detects your overall health condition, the functioning of your organ systems, possible health disorders, the status of already existing diseases and the impact of their treatment. 

How frequently should you do a full body checkup?

While it is true that some people get a full body checkup done annually or once in 5 years, many individuals do not opt for it for years and even decades. Hence, it is necessary to go for a full body checkup regularly.

While there is no specific frequency and period for the physical examination, it is generally recommended to get it done once a year. 

You should resort to a full-body checkup if any of the conditions mentioned below apply to you:

• Existing chronic conditions
• Unexpected symptoms or illness
• Undergoing treatments or medications
• Pregnancy concerns
• Apparent risk factors like smoking, drinking, etc.

However, it is important to know that the frequency of the test will also vary as per your gender. For instance, in the case of men who are in their 30s, the test can be taken once a year, especially if they fall ill frequently. For men in their 40s, the examination should be taken on a bi-annual basis. 

Besides, the frequency also differs as per your medical history and current health conditions. 

Precautions / Preparation before a full body checkup: 

Instead of going headfirst into a full body checkup, it is important to observe certain preventive measures, which can be enlisted below:

• Take a prior appointment.
• Report in advance if you have diabetes or are a cardiac patient. 
• Ensure that you have an empty stomach. You should be fasting for at least 10 hours before the checkup.
• Switch to a fat-free diet from the previous day of the test. 
• Drink at least four to five glasses of water before three hours of the procedure. 
• Carry along with you your stool in a container. 
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco or smoking for at least 24 hours before the checkup. 
• Bring all your prior medical reports.
• Pregnant women should not subscribe to mammograms and X-rays during their menstrual cycle.

Full body checkup price range in India:

The cost varies according to the chosen package and diagnostic centre. It largely depends upon which state or city you are to opt for the test. The table below highlights the full body check up package range in the cities of India, which are renowned for their healthcare sector:

A progressive capital which might expand to be a significant health hub of India is Ranchi, Jharkhand. With numerous NABL and ISO certified healthcare centres, a full-body checkup is easy and reliable in Ranchi.

The average cost of a full-body checkup in Ranchi extends between 10,000 to 20,000 Rs, depending upon the medical centre. 

Apart from various other centres offering the test, Berlin Diagnostics Centre is one of the most renowned. A complete body health checkup package it offers for males is worth Rs. 13,350/- and for females, it is about Rs.13,150/-. Whereas Berlin Diagnostics & amp; Day Care offers a complete body health checkup at Rs.6999/- only.

To provide you with a precise knowledge of the various health packes, the tests it involves and their respective prices offered by Berlin Diagnostic Centre, here’s a cumulative information of the same:

All ABOUT FULL BODY CHECKUP PACKAGES

Along with full-body checkups, it also provides a range of services such as medical Imaging, Day Care, Advance Pathology, and Chemotherapy. In addition, we offer Pharmacy and Covid Care facilities.

CONCLUSION:

Considering health disorders show no signs of improvement, getting a full body checkup every year appears to be the only preventative measure to maintain good health. 

With an annual full body checkup, you will have the chance to discern any potential abnormalities early and take effective steps to better your overall health. 

Regardless of whether you have underlying health conditions or if you want to be sure about your health status, a full body checkup is an ideal way to relieve all of your concerns.  

Hence, it would be no exaggeration to say that there is no approachable way of knowing your body without a full body health checkup.

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