HOW TO READ YOUR HEALTH SCREENING REPORT (MEDICAL HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION)

How often have you gone "actually what do all these mean?" when you received your health checkup results? Different hospitals and clinics have different layouts, but they should include similar information. Here are some of the terms commonly found in health screening reports, and this is what they mean.

How often have you gone "actually what do all these mean?" when you received your health screening report? Different hospitals and clinics have different layouts, but they should include similar information. Here are some of the terms commonly found in health checkup results slips, and this is what they mean. I am writing this article based on Raffles Hospital’s health screening report, but most health screening reports should contain similar things.

Usually, when you first visit the doctor for a health checkup, the doctor will first ask for your past medical history, which includes drug allergies, hepatitis, thalassemia, as well as any other chronic diseases or issues you may have. Such medical problems include diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or even anxiety disorders.

The clinic or hospital will then do an overall systems review, which includes checking for any abnormalities in weight change, the cardiovascular system (governing blood circulation), the respiratory system (in charge of breathing), the gastrointestinal system (digestion), the genito-urinary system, and the central nervous system. If you are on any long-term medications, it will be recorded in this section as well.

They will then take note of your social history. Social history includes whether or not you smoke, drink and exercise regularly. Such information is integral in helping the clinic assess your risk for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Family history is also recorded. Family history, like social history, affects how likely you are to get a certain disease. Different health screening reports contain the family history of different diseases, but most should contain Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Heart diseases, Stroke, Cancer, Tuberculosis, Kidney disease, and Thalassaemia.

Next, there will be a section on physical examination. This section contains information such as height, weight, body mass index, and body fat percentage, among many others. This section is then further subdivided according to different parts of the body and their respective systems.

In the case of Raffles Medical’s health screening report, there is a general section within the physical examination portion as shown:

Pallor: No

Jaundice: No

Edema: Absent

Pallor refers to pale skin, frequently associated with poor blood circulation. Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin, usually associated with liver diseases. Edema means swelling, and can be due to various factors usually associated with fluid accumulating at the body’s extremities.

The general section is then followed by the skin/integumentary system section, which takes note of the presence of rashes, damaged/abnormal nails, and scarring on the body. The scarring here refers to excessively damaged tissues commonly due to infections.

Next, is the eyes, ears, nose, and throat section, which tests for the overall function of these organs. The neck is then observed for any form of swelling, suggesting thyroid gland problems, which can lead to body complications. The lymphatic system is then checked for any abnormalities, such as swelling of the lymph nodes. If worrying symptoms are present, they will be included in the report.

Then, the respiratory (breathing) and cardiovascular (blood circulation) systems are checked. Common parameters include respiratory rate, breath sounds, blood pressure, pulse rate, and rhythm. Presented here are the normal ranges for each value:

Respiratory rate: 12-20 breaths per minute

Blood pressure: below 120/80 mmHg

Pulse rate: 60-100 beats per minute

Abnormalities are indicative of problems with either the respiratory or the circulatory system. In addition, ECG tests are also commonly performed to check for any abnormalities in pulse patterns. More information on reading ECG charts can be found at How to read an ECG

As for the nervous system, reflexes, sensation, motor power, gait and coordination are checked. Gait is the manner in which the person walks, affected by the motor neurons within the body. Any abnormalities in any of these parameters can be suggestive of a nervous system-related problem.

During the abdomen examination, main organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys are checked for any form of swelling or tenderness, which can reveal complications such as splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen). The activity of joints is also tested to ensure that they are functional. Any abnormalities can be indicative of gout or arthritis.

The above information is frequently found in most health screening reports. On top of physical examination and history taking, most hospitals and clinics also offer blood, urine, and fecal tests, which will be explained in the next post. Stay tuned!