Why Regular Lab Work Matters for Your Long-Term Health

Routine lab work can catch problems before you ever feel a symptom. In this article, we turn to the expertise of Dr. Maryann Kelly, a primary care provider at Riverside's Frankfort Campus. She explains why these simple blood tests matter so much—and why one number alone rarely tells the whole story.

The Basics: CBC and CMP

The two most common lab tests are a CBC and a CMP. A CBC looks at your blood cell counts: red cells, platelets, and white blood cells. It can show if you are anemic or fighting an infection. A CMP looks at your liver, kidneys, and electrolytes. “A lot of information comes from just those two labs,” Dr. Kelly notes.

Certain Factors Make Monitoring Even More Important

Some medications require regular checks on liver and kidney function. Family history matters too. If diabetes or thyroid problems run in your family, your provider may want to watch those labs more closely. Lifestyle factors, like struggling with weight, can also prompt closer monitoring of cholesterol and blood sugar.

Why a Baseline Is Key, Even When You Feel Fine

Getting routine labs done even when you are healthy gives your doctor something to compare future results against. “If you come in and that's your first lab, I don't know what your baseline is,” Dr. Kelly explains. Trends over time matter more than any single result.

Catching Problems Before Symptoms Appear

Lab work can catch conditions early, before you notice anything wrong. Impaired fasting glucose, once called prediabetes, is one example. “Diet and exercise actually reverses this,” Dr. Kelly emphasizes. Catching it early can help someone avoid full-blown diabetes altogether.
Kidney disease is another. Early kidney problems often cause no symptoms at all. A single abnormal result could be caused by dehydration or something temporary. But, a repeated trend tells a different story; one that calls for attention to medications, hydration, and prevention.

Why Trends Are More Important Than One Number

Dr. Kelly points to thyroid labs as a clear example. The normal range for TSH, a thyroid hormone, spans from 0.5 to 4, which is a wide range. A patient who typically sits around 3.5 and suddenly drops to 0.8 is still technically “in range.” But, that drop can explain new symptoms a patient is feeling. Her explanation makes complete sense: “It's putting the picture together, rather than just being like, ‘Oh, you're within normal range, you're okay.’”
This is why Dr. Kelly treats every patient as an individual. Some patients have significantly abnormal labs and feel completely fine. Others have labs that are technically normal but are dealing with real, disruptive symptoms. Looking at the full picture, and the trend over time, matters more than a single cutoff number.

How Often Should You Get Lab Work Done?

For younger adults without medical issues, every year or two is generally fine. As people age, yearly labs become more important. Anyone with an existing condition like thyroid disease, diabetes, or kidney disease needs more frequent monitoring.

Do Not Panic Over One Red Result

Dr. Kelly offers one more important piece of advice: do not panic over a single abnormal lab. “One lab does not give us a picture. It's just a puzzle to a bigger picture,” she assures. She also cautions against turning to Google or ChatGPT for answers. “They're going to give you the worst-case scenario,” she warns. If something serious does show up, your doctor will call you.
If you have not had a checkup or lab work done in years, now is the time. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Riverside primary care provider, visit riversidehealthcare.org.

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