Start the New Year with a Wellness Plan
The end of the year is an opportunity for many to tie up any loose ends — taxes, insurance, and even cybersecurity are all reviewed to ensure all affairs are in order. The same could be said for your physical well-being. What better time to secure peace of mind for the coming year and create a personal wellness plan for the next 12 months? Learn how a general health panel can help put your mind at ease to start the New Year and could even catch small problems before they become more serious.
What Is a General Health Panel?
A general health panel is a series of tests that offers patients a clear understanding of how well their body is functioning, including kidney and liver function and the risk of heart attack or stroke. Any abnormal levels detected can give your provider the information needed to diagnose health conditions, treat ongoing issues, or determine your risk for developing any illnesses in the future. The following tests are conducted during a general health panel:
- Complete blood count — Used to evaluate a patient’s overall health, a complete blood count measures several components including red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Abnormal levels may indicate a wide range of medical issues, such as infections, anemia, and leukemia.
- Comprehensive metabolic panel — This group of tests provides valuable insights on various bodily functions like the kidneys and liver as well as determining levels of electrolytes, acid/base balance, and blood glucose and protein.
- Thyroid profile — Whether your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism), a thyroid profile can determine if a patient’s thyroid is functioning properly and can even detect disorders before symptoms start.
- Lipid panel — A component of all cardiac risk assessments, a lipid panel determines the patient’s risk of heart disease by monitoring fats and fat-like substances collectively known as lipids. A lipid panel can test for cholesterol levels — including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and total cholesterol — as well as triglyceride levels.
Why Is a General Health Panel Important?
By keeping you and your healthcare provider informed of your physical well-being, a general health panel familiarizes your physician with you. Using the results, your provider can personalize a wellness plan just for you and determine what treatment options work best for you specifically rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution. This is also an opportunity to inform your provider of any recent changes — whether you’re experiencing new symptoms, have a family member who’s developed a medical condition, or just have general questions or concerns about your health.
A general health panel is also an opportunity to discover underlying medical issues before they become more serious. Detecting diseases like cancer and heart disease in their early stages may provide you enough time to adjust to a healthier lifestyle or develop a treatment plan — or both. Either way, remaining vigilant with your health and ensuring a longer, healthier life is a fantastic way to start your New Year.
Schedule your general health panel today — our providers are waiting! Find a clinic near you or search our provider directory. For more information, call (217) 322-4321.