Regular health screenings with a primary care physician are important for early detection and prevention of health problems, according to Dr. Anna Spelts, a physician at St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care in Richmond Hill. She emphasizes the value of building a relationship with a primary care doctor who understands a patient’s health history.
“There are so many reasons to have a primary care doctor,” Dr. Spelts said. “We build relationships with our patients, and your primary care doctor should be the one who knows you best health-wise. You’d be surprised what we can take care of in-house without unnecessary ER.”
Dr. Spelts also notes that understanding test results is as important as regular checkups: “Not everything that is high is bad and not everything that is just slightly out of reference range is alarming,” she said. “For example, if your hemoglobin is high one day, maybe you didn’t drink enough water.”
She encourages communication between patients and providers about lab results: “I think it’s good for a patient to be their own advocate, but I also don’t want this to be a source of anxiety. That’s why it’s good for the provider and patient to communicate on lab results even when there are no major concerns.”
Routine tests often include cholesterol levels, which consist of triglycerides (ideally less than 150), HDL or “good” cholesterol (greater than 60), and LDL or “bad” cholesterol (less than 100). Lifestyle changes such as diet modification and exercise can help manage these numbers; however, LDL levels may require medication due to genetic factors.
The hemoglobin A1C test measures average blood glucose over two to three months and helps detect diabetes. For non-diabetics, an A1C below 5.7 is considered normal; between 5.7 and 6.4 indicates pre-diabetes; above 6.5 suggests diabetes. Maintaining healthy levels involves exercise, diet changes, medication if necessary, and regular monitoring.
Hemoglobin levels indicate anemia risk—women should have levels between 12-16, men between 14-18—and can be improved by eating iron-rich foods like beef or leafy greens.
Other metrics monitored during checkups include Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure. A BMI between 18.5-24.9 is considered healthy; higher values indicate overweight or obesity status, which can be addressed through diet and exercise under medical guidance.
Normal blood pressure should remain below 120/80 mmHg; elevated readings start at systolic values of 120-129 with diastolic less than 80 mmHg, while higher numbers are classified as hypertension. Reducing sodium intake to less than 2,000 milligrams daily along with exercise supports lower blood pressure.
Dr. Spelts highlights the importance of these tests for all age groups: “These tests are important and are even necessary in younger people because while they may be healthy on the outside, you just don’t know if they have any familial traits that need to be treated early that can help prevent serious complications down the road,” she said.“We try to communicate all these tests and results we get with our patients so, if necessary, they know how to change their outcomes for the better.”
St. Joseph’s/Candler offers primary care offices throughout the region including Richmond Hill, Savannah, Statesboro, and South Carolina.
