• Published on: Sep 17, 2021
  • 6 minute read
  • By: Second Medic Expert

Full-body Check-up Include & Why Full Body Check-up Is Important?

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What does a full-body check-up include & Why full body check-up is important?

A full body check-up includes blood work, vision test, ear exam, prostate exam urinalysis, and stool sample.

A full body check-up can vary from visit to visit, but it often includes a complete health history and examination of all systems in the body—everything from your heart and lungs to your skin and teeth. You'll likely have several laboratory tests done on blood samples, urine samples, or stool samples. Your doctor may also recommend getting an echocardiogram if you're over 40 years old. If you're at high risk for certain types of cancer due to family medical history or lifestyle factors, your doctor will recommend screening tests such as mammograms or prostate exams.

A full body check-up is most extensive. It covers everything from a basic physical exam to regular testing of all vital organ systems. The individual being examined usually has an appointment about every one to two years with their primary care physician - thought it's possible for this process to occur every four months if necessary. More time will be dedicated to examining organs deemed at higher risk within a person based on family history or other factors that may have been unknown when the examination was first conducted – including breast health and prostate health – meaning that they'll undergo more regular screenings for those areas as well.

A full body check-up includes checking for any abnormalities seen on x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds. The doctor will also ask about your medical history and you'll be asked to provide blood and urine samples so the doctor can assess your metabolic function.

The exam typically lasts for approximately one hour. Afterward, the patient will know if they are suffering from an illness that needs monitoring/treatment by a physician or whether it's safe to go home without further consultation with their primary care physician. Often no abnormalities are found during the exam because "a high percentage of health issues can be controlled simply through lifestyle changes."

A check-up will usually include a physical exam to look for anything abnormal like an infection or broken bone, and could also involve:

• Listening to the heartbeat and lungs with a stethoscope

• Checking breathing rate by counting how many breaths they take in one minute; then multiplying that number by two

• Putting on gloves and feeling the patient's pulse

• Checking skin temperature using a thermometer (pillowcases can be helpful if someone is hard to check)

Physicians might use their fingers to examine the throat, listen through the chest wall with a stethoscope for rales (breaks in rhythm) or bronchial breath sounds, palpate lymph nodes in the neck and groin. Your doctor will perform a general health exam and ask questions about your medical history.

Doctors will check for warning signs of serious conditions, as well as take blood samples to measure levels of minerals, enzymes, and different types of protein produced by organs such as the liver and kidneys. These tests help doctors determine if there is a disease at work. Doctors examine a patient's skin carefully for evidence that diabetes or high blood pressure has damaged the tiny arteries that feed tiny vessels inside the skin tissues. If they find evidence of arterial damage from these two common conditions -both of which can lead to stroke- your doctor may prescribe medication to slow down the progression of this third major risk factor for premature death.

A full body check-up can include but is not limited to a pap smear for women, the pelvic exam for women, the prostate exam for men, the rectal exam for both sexes. In addition, blood pressure and weight are checked as well as oral hygiene. However, the person conducting the examination typically performs other tests from those listed depending on findings from those above. Tests may also be added based on a particular patient's concerns or diagnosis by a physician should follow up with previous tests or other medical information about them."

This will vary depending on the health care provider. It generally includes a vitals exam, a head-to-toe physical examination, some blood work, and more specific tests if there are any concerns from the vitals exam. In general, it also includes checking for signs of an enlarged heart or lungs.

A full body check-up is often more standardized than a complete physical examination because it doesn't add extra procedures if they're not needed. The full body check-up, as opposed to the part where we listen to your heart and lungs and we take your temperature and we measure up your height and weight, has always fascinated me.

The other day I went for a full-body check-up, and I had my first ever mammogram. Heparin was injected into my veins just below the point of entry, so I didn't bruise, sterilized needle tips punctured my skin at five points on my lower legs to draw blood from those petechial nodes where capillaries gather close together as they travel down the length of each leg.

Being present for your yearly check-up is the best way to keep tabs on any health changes in your body. Your check-up will most likely include weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol or glucose level checks. Once a year they'll take your height and ask you about erectile function, urinary incontinence, bowel patterns, menstrual patterns (women), sensation in hips/knees/toes (older adults). Then they'll do breast exams for women of age. They also do rectal exams if warranted or the patient requests it after they've had their pelvic exam with speculum insertion to check out their vagina/cervix.

Sometimes there are health problems that people may not be aware of. For example, they can have high cholesterol or anemia they don't know about because it has never been included in any physical examination.

A person's weight also tends to fluctuate often after finishing with a diet, so it's important to get on the scale at least once every three months following the end of your program to see if you've made progress. A full body checkup can provide information on improving one's lifestyle and exercise habits as well as educating them with the knowledge of what their own normal values are over time. Consult your physician for more information!

A full body check-up is important because it's the only way to know where your health priorities should lie. A check-up will let you know if anything is seriously wrong with you and give you the time it takes to fix that problem before other problems creep up which grow into bigger problems. If nothing changes but just one thing then in no time at all your life can spiral out of control. A full body check-up also tells your doctor about how well you're doing, so they can keep an eye on you for any warning signs

Checking the body for anything unusual, whether through white light or other methods, is an important part of one's health care. The intent of the full body check-up is to learn about all parts of the whole person- not just how their organs are functioning, It's important for people to know the 'firmness' and elasticity of their skin; be aware if there are any signs that could signal cancerous cells; weigh themselves accurately (ideally with similar scales at least 3 days apart) to see changes or patterns in weight gain or loss; listen to what their joints are telling them; look for hardening around blood vessels.

A full body check-up is important because it catches things that your regular doctor can't. In fact, a lot of people find out they have issues unrelated to the joints from their first chiropractic exam. A chiropractor will pay attention to any discomfort you're feeling, what's hurting when you move, including deep down into your muscles and ligaments. They'll also take notice of how well you're breathing and whether you're having any pressure in your head around certain nerves that might be getting compressed.

In a full body check-up, a medical professional will investigate not just what's going on in your stomach but also how it impacts the rest of your body. A full body check-up could uncover simple solutions for chronic problems because you're noticing when something goes wrong health-wise during a regular visit amongst other things. You'll know for sure if anything is going on and how well your organs are working by getting a complete picture from an experienced medical professional. A full body check-up may be important because signs of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other diseases can often be found.

A simple blood pressure reading could predict not just the risk of developing heart disease but also one's length of life. Every increase in systolic blood pressure – the top number – by 20 points is associated with a 13% increase in death from all causes and a 14?crease in lifespan.

Moreover, a regular physical examination that includes a height and weight measure together with an evaluation of one or more vital signs is important to ensure that medical problems are detected at early stages when they are easiest to correct. A full-body exam is important because it is the only way to be sure that any problem areas or symptoms that are likely to be detected in one region of the body were not missed when they were in fact present. For example, many people who come for a routine physical find out something about their lungs, heart, or stomach--even though this was not on the list of routine tests they scheduled. You can feel confident that in your specialist's office you will get checked head to toe without missing anything!

When people come for a check-up, usually what they're worried about is something specific like high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate. So, there's no point coming just for that one thing.

The full-body check-up is used to rule out medical ailments that could potentially escape your doctor's notice. Conditions that are typically found in a patient's gums can be causing one of the following: cramping and bloating, sore throat and fever, inflammation of tissues lining the neck and chest, increased white blood cells indicating infection somewhere in the body.

A lot of patients find that their only complaint is some generalized pain or fatigue — something we call "chronic somatic dysfunction" — but as it turns out there was some other underlying condition causing those problems all along.  Getting scanned for an ailment with x-rays or CT scans will show any structural problems.

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Health

20% Health Time | A Smarter Way to Build Workplace Wellbeing

Modern workplaces are increasingly recognising that employee health is not separate from performance—it is foundational to it. Long work hours, constant digital connectivity and rising stress levels have led to burnout, lifestyle diseases and declining engagement across industries. In this context, the concept of 20% Health Time has emerged as a forward-thinking approach to workplace wellness.

20% Health Time allows employees to dedicate a portion of their paid working hours specifically to activities that support physical, mental and preventive health. Rather than treating wellness as an after-hours responsibility, this model integrates health directly into the work culture.

 

What Is 20% Health Time?

20% Health Time is a structured workplace initiative where employees are encouraged or allowed to spend approximately one-fifth of their working time on health-related activities.

These activities may include:

  • physical exercise or movement breaks
     

  • mental wellness practices
     

  • health education sessions
     

  • preventive health screenings
     

  • stress management and recovery
     

The core idea is simple: healthier employees perform better and sustain productivity longer.

 

Why Traditional Wellness Programs Fall Short

Many organisations offer wellness benefits such as gym memberships or annual checkups. While valuable, these programs often fail because:

  • employees lack time to use them
     

  • wellness is seen as optional
     

  • participation remains low
     

  • benefits are disconnected from daily work
     

20% Health Time addresses these gaps by embedding wellness into regular work hours.

 

Why Health Time Matters in Today’s Workplace

Rising Lifestyle Disease Burden

Public health data shows increasing rates of:

  • diabetes
     

  • hypertension
     

  • obesity
     

  • mental health disorders
     

These conditions affect working-age adults and directly impact productivity and healthcare costs.

 

Burnout and Mental Fatigue

Constant pressure and lack of recovery time lead to:

  • chronic stress
     

  • disengagement
     

  • absenteeism
     

  • high attrition
     

Health Time creates space for recovery and resilience.

 

Sedentary Work Culture

Desk-bound work contributes to:

  • musculoskeletal problems
     

  • cardiovascular risk
     

  • low energy levels
     

Dedicated health time encourages movement and prevention.

 

How 20% Health Time Benefits Employees

Improved Physical Health

Regular movement and preventive care reduce long-term health risks.

 

Better Mental Wellbeing

Time for mindfulness, rest and stress management improves emotional balance.

 

Higher Energy and Focus

Healthy routines improve concentration and reduce fatigue.

 

Empowerment and Autonomy

Employees feel trusted to manage their wellbeing, increasing engagement.

 

How Employers Benefit from 20% Health Time

Increased Productivity

Healthy employees work more efficiently and make fewer errors.

Reduced Absenteeism

Preventive care lowers sick days and health-related disruptions.

 

Lower Healthcare Costs

Early detection and healthier habits reduce long-term medical expenses.

 

Stronger Employer Brand

Wellbeing-focused policies attract and retain top talent.

 

Sustainable Performance

Health Time supports long-term performance rather than short-term output.

 

Activities That Fit into 20% Health Time

Organisations can tailor activities based on workforce needs:

  • guided fitness or yoga sessions
     

  • walking or movement breaks
     

  • mental health workshops
     

  • preventive health checkups
     

  • nutrition education
     

  • stress and sleep management programs
     

Flexibility ensures inclusivity across roles and work models.

 

Evidence Supporting Health Time Initiatives

Workplace health research consistently shows that:

  • preventive health improves productivity
     

  • employee wellbeing programs reduce burnout
     

  • time invested in health yields measurable returns
     

According to WHO and workplace wellness studies, integrated health initiatives deliver better outcomes than standalone benefits.

 

Addressing Common Concerns

“Will this reduce working hours?”

No. Health Time improves efficiency, offsetting time spent through better performance.

 

“Is it suitable for high-pressure roles?”

Yes. High-stress roles benefit the most from structured recovery time.

 

“How do we measure impact?”

Metrics may include:

  • reduced absenteeism
     

  • improved engagement scores
     

  • lower healthcare claims
     

  • better retention
     

 

Implementing 20% Health Time Effectively

Successful implementation requires:

  • leadership support
     

  • clear guidelines
     

  • flexible scheduling
     

  • inclusive activity options
     

  • regular feedback
     

Health Time works best when seen as a cultural shift, not a perk.

 

Long-Term Impact on Organisational Health

Over time, organisations adopting Health Time observe:

  • healthier workforce
     

  • improved morale
     

  • reduced burnout
     

  • stronger team cohesion
     

  • sustainable growth
     

These benefits compound year after year.

 

Conclusion

20% Health Time represents a progressive shift in how organisations view employee wellbeing. By dedicating work time to health, companies acknowledge that productivity and wellbeing are deeply connected. Rather than reacting to burnout and illness, Health Time promotes prevention, balance and resilience. In a future where talent, performance and sustainability matter more than ever, integrating health into the workday is not a luxury—it is a strategic necessity.

 

References

  • World Health Organization (WHO) – Workplace Health Promotion Guidelines

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Lifestyle Disease and Work Health Reports

  • NITI Aayog – Preventive Healthcare and Workforce Wellbeing Strateg

  •  Lancet – Workplace Wellness and Productivity Studies

  • Harvard Business Review – Employee Wellbeing and Performance Research

  • Statista – Corporate Wellness Trends and ROI Data

See all

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