Wellness Screening 101 | Parkview Health

This post was written by Tori Chess, CHWC, Workplace Wellness, Benefits Coordinator, Parkview Employer Solutions.

Attending a health check is a great way to check your overall health. Health screenings typically consist of routine blood tests and biometrics (body measurements). These results will tell you about your current health status so you can assess any necessary lifestyle adjustments or conversations with your doctor.

One of the biggest benefits of following a preventive approach is that it may provide early signs of a potential diagnosis, perhaps before you notice any symptoms. Health exams are preventive and should be done once a year. This rhythm helps your healthcare team detect disease in its early stages, assess your risk for certain conditions, and help you make positive lifestyle choices that protect your overall health and well-being.

What to expect from a health checkup

There are a variety of options to complete your health screening, including at your doctor’s office, most lab locations, and in some cases at your workplace. Many businesses offer on-site health screenings for employees. (If not, please consider requesting one.)

The health exam takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, we will measure your biometrics (height, weight, blood pressure, waist circumference) and complete a blood draw.

common test

Common routine blood tests include:

Your health care provider or health care team can work with you to determine which screening tests are right for you.

Screenings by numbers

blood pressure: The top number (systolic) is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Regular blood pressure checks are important because many people with high blood pressure may have no symptoms until something serious happens.

Normal blood pressure readings are: Less than 120/80

Body mass index (BMI): BMI is a numerical ratio based on your height and weight that your doctor can use along with other information, such as your waist circumference, to assess whether you are at a healthy weight.

Typical BMI measurements are: 18.5 – 24.9

Lipid panel: The lipid panel measures cholesterol. Cholesterol is a necessary substance present in the blood. It results from eating animal products such as meat, poultry, and full-fat dairy products, and is produced in the liver. HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides (fats found in the blood) are all measured in a lipid panel. Elevated cholesterol is a controllable risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

A normal total cholesterol level is:Less than 200mg/dl
A normal HDL (good) cholesterol level is:40mg/dl or more
A normal LDL (bad) cholesterol level is:Less than 130mg/dl
Normal triglyceride levels are:Less than 150mg/dl

A1C glycated hemoglobin: Hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that determines whether the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose (sugar) bound to them is higher than normal. The results reflect average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months and can be used to diagnose diabetes.

A normal A1C level is: Less than 5.7%

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): CMP measures 14 different substances in the blood. It provides information about your body’s chemical balance and metabolism, or how your body converts the food you eat into energy.

CMP includes:

• Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride)
• Liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase (ALP))
• Alanine transaminase (ALT)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
• glucose (sugar)
• calcium
• total protein
• bilirubin
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
• creatinine
• albumin

Normal sodium concentration is:134～146mmol/L
A normal potassium level is:3.6～5.1mmol/L
Normal bicarbonate levels are:21～29mmol/L
Normal chlorine concentration is: 98-107mmol/L
A normal ALP level is: 40-110U/L
Normal ALT levels are: 10-35U/L
Normal AST levels are: 10-35U/L
Normal blood sugar level is: 70-99gm/dL
Normal calcium levels are: 8.5-10.3gm/dL
Normal total protein levels are:6.3～8.2g/dL
normal bilirubin levelse：0.0～1.0mg/dL
Typical BUN levels are:: 7-18mg/dL
Normal creatinine levels are: 0.60-1.10g/dL
Normal albumin levels are：3.4～5.0g/dL

Complete blood count (CBC)): CBC measures and counts blood cells. Checking blood cell counts and readings can help detect blood abnormalities, diagnose or monitor diseases, conditions, and infections, assess overall health, monitor blood disorders, check drug side effects, and help plan treatment. Helps with adjustment.

CBC includes:

• white blood cells
• red blood cells
• hematocrit
• platelet
• hemoglobin

A normal adult white blood cell level is: 3.4-10.5th/μL
Normal red blood cell levels are: 4.00-5.20 miles/μL
A normal hematocrit value is: 35% – 48%
Normal platelet levels are: 150-450th/μL
A normal hemoglobin level is:12.0～15.5g/dL

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): The thyroid is essential for maintaining your body’s metabolic rate, the rate at which your body converts the food you eat into energy and uses it. It also maintains heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, and bone maintenance. In most cases, irregular TSH levels mean there is a problem with your thyroid. Either too much or too little thyroid hormone is produced.

Normal TSH levels for adults are:: 0.25-4.5 ulU/mL

prostate specific antigen (PSA): PSA is a protein produced by prostate tissue. The PSA test is a tool used to screen for early signs of prostate cancer. This is tested in men over the age of 55 or with a family history of prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, or prostate inflammation.

Typical PSA results are: 0.0～4.0ng/mL

Most results are available within 24 to 48 hours after your physical exam. Whether your results are normal or out of range, you should review your results with your doctor or health care team. They can work with you to create a plan to improve your overall health and well-being based on the results of your health exam. This plan may include positive lifestyle and behavior changes or medications to help you feel like your best self.

Employee resources to support employee health

Parkview Employer Solutions partners with local businesses to improve the health and well-being of their employees, including workplace health management, occupational health, employee assistance programs, proactive injury care, employer clinics, diabetes care direct, and more We provide innovative services that will For more information, please contact ParkviewEmployerSolutions@parkview.com.

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