Beware of Combined Risks of "Abnormal" Physical Examination Results

Source: Life Times

Interviewed Expert: Gao Jie, Chief Physician, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital

Special Correspondent of This Newspaper: Zhong Yanyu

"Mild abnormalities" in physical examination reports, such as mild fatty liver, slightly elevated blood glucose, and slightly high blood pressure, are often dismissed as "no big deal" and casually overlooked. However, Gao Jie, Chief Physician of the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery at Peking University People's Hospital, reminds that the risk of a single mildly abnormal indicator in a physical examination is indeed limited. But if several indicators show abnormal results at the same time, coupled with a big belly and weight gain, the risks of diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and even liver diseases will be greatly increased, requiring timely intervention.

To identify risks, you must first understand the "subtext" on the physical examination report. Mild fatty liver refers to the accumulation of fat in liver cells accounting for 5% to 33%, and most people have no obvious discomfort. Its root cause is not entirely "eating too much greasy food", but more often insulin resistance and long-term excess calorie intake. Slightly elevated fasting blood glucose: the normal range is 3.9 to 6.1 mmol/L, and 6.1 to 6.99 mmol/L is considered high, namely impaired fasting glucose, which belongs to the pre-diabetes stage. Slightly high blood pressure, also known as "normal high value", refers to multiple measurements on different days with systolic blood pressure at 120 to 139 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure at 80 to 89 mmHg. It has not yet reached the diagnostic criteria for hypertension and does not require medication, but the blood vessels have been under long-term pressure. Elevated uric acid: when blood uric acid exceeds 420 μmol/L twice on different days, a mild increase rarely causes gout, but the body's purine metabolism has already shown a warning sign, and the kidneys and blood vessels are silently bearing the pressure.

A single mildly abnormal indicator has limited impact on the body, but if the following three combinations appear at the same time, the risk will increase exponentially, which can be called a "combination punch of metabolic damage".

Fatty liver + increased waist circumference. Increased waist circumference is a core sign of excessive visceral fat. The coexistence of the two usually means that triglycerides, uric acid, and blood glucose are all at abnormal levels, and the whole-body fat metabolism has been disordered. If left unchecked, mild fatty liver may progress to steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis within a few years, while quietly damaging blood vessels and kidneys. The core coping strategy is to "reduce visceral fat", and simple weight loss cannot improve fatty liver. It is recommended to stick to 30 minutes of brisk walking, jogging or rope skipping every day; strictly limit refined rice and wheat, sweets and fried foods, completely abstain from alcohol and limit sugar intake.

Borderline blood glucose + overweight + family history of diabetes. This is the "high-risk package" for pre-diabetes. Genetic genes make such people innately weak in islet regulation, and obesity and sedentary lifestyles will make things worse. Clinical data shows that if such high-risk groups do not intervene, the probability of progressing to type 2 diabetes within 5 years exceeds 60%. On the other hand, this is also the only golden window period that can completely reverse blood glucose abnormalities. It is recommended to eat until 70% full in daily life, give up milk tea and desserts, and replace refined carbohydrates with whole grains, vegetables and high-quality protein; accumulate at least 150 minutes of exercise per week and avoid sitting for long periods; recheck fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin every year.

Slightly high blood pressure + thick waist + abnormal blood glucose/blood lipids. This is the most dangerous set of indicators, doubling the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and it especially "prefers" young and middle-aged people. Central obesity continuously puts pressure on blood vessels, and slightly elevated blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids work together to damage the vascular endothelium and accelerate the process of atherosclerosis. Young and middle-aged people have strong compensatory abilities, so there are often no symptoms in the early stage, but the disease progresses extremely fast, easily inducing emergencies such as myocardial infarction and stroke. For daily vascular protection, adhere to a low-salt diet with no more than 5 grams of salt per day; maintain a regular work and rest schedule, avoid staying up late and drastic mood swings; stick to exercise to control weight, regularly monitor blood pressure, blood lipids and blood glucose, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible when indicators remain abnormal.

Faced with mild abnormal indicators, there is no need for excessive anxiety, nor can the problems be ignored. The vast majority of early problems are expected to return to normal completely through targeted lifestyle adjustments.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for popular science reference only and does not constitute medical diagnosis advice.