What physical examination should be done for emaciation in the human body

It is recommended to undergo physical examinations such as blood routine, thyroid function test, blood glucose test, tumor marker screening, and gastrointestinal endoscopy for human emaciation. Weight loss may be related to factors such as nutrient absorption disorders, endocrine disorders, chronic infections, or tumors, and targeted examinations should be selected based on specific symptoms.

1. Blood routine

Blood routine can screen for basic problems such as anemia and infection. When long-term emaciation is accompanied by fatigue, the decrease of hemoglobin may indicate iron deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic diseases, and abnormal increase of white blood cells requires screening of infectious diseases. If the hematocrit is abnormal, further examination of bone marrow hematopoietic function is required. This examination does not require fasting and is suitable as a preliminary screening method.

2. Thyroid Function

The five indicators of thyroid function, including thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine, can distinguish metabolic hyperfunction induced emaciation caused by hyperthyroidism. Patients often experience symptoms such as palpitations, excessive sweating, and irritability. Elevated thyroid hormone levels can accelerate energy expenditure. Iodine containing foods should be discontinued before inspection to avoid affecting the test results.

3. Blood glucose detection

Fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin can detect diabetes or abnormal glucose tolerance. Uncontrolled diabetes patients will have progressive weight loss due to glucose utilization disorders, and typical symptoms include polydipsia and polyuria. For individuals with symptoms of emaciation and thirst, it is recommended to undergo an insulin release test.

4. Tumor markers

Broad spectrum tumor markers such as AFP and CEA are helpful for early detection of gastrointestinal tumors. Pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and other malignant tumors often present with unexplained emaciation as the first manifestation, and abnormal elevation of markers needs to be combined with imaging examination. However, it should be noted that inflammatory diseases may also lead to mild elevation.

5. Gastrointestinal endoscopy

Gastrointestinal endoscopy can visually observe mucosal lesions in the digestive tract, diagnose chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, or detect space occupying lesions such as gastric cancer and colon cancer. This type of disease can interfere with nutrient absorption and lead to weight loss, so it is necessary to strictly clean the intestines before examination.

It is recommended that thin individuals record their weight changes over the past 3 months before a physical examination, and complete supporting tests such as fecal occult blood and liver and kidney function. Maintain a balanced diet in daily life, increase intake of high-quality protein and whole grains, and avoid excessive dieting. If there is a continuous weight loss exceeding 10% of the standard weight, or accompanied by symptoms such as fever and pain, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly at the gastroenterology or endocrinology department.