Reassess, Refocus, Reignite: Your Late August Wellness Audit in the Tri-Cities
As August winds down, many of our patients in Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco find themselves asking the same question: How do I keep my health momentum going into fall? Whether you’ve made progress this summer or you’re just getting started, now is the ideal time to reassess what’s working and course-correct where needed.
In this blog, I’ll guide you through a late-summer wellness audit: a data-driven, compassionate look at your body’s feedback—so you can head into September with purpose. We'll also highlight some of our team’s favorite wellness tools, explore proactive testing like Galleri, and share a quiz to help you evaluate your current direction.
Expert Insight: The Lab Work We Prioritize
As a functional medicine practice, we often look at labs differently. Here are 3 markers I always pay close attention to:
- Insulin: Even when blood sugar is “normal,” elevated fasting insulin can indicate early metabolic dysfunction.
- hs-CRP: This marker reveals systemic inflammation—often before symptoms are obvious.
- Ferritin: Known as an iron storage marker, but also elevated during inflammation or liver dysfunction.
Spotlight: Galleri Cancer Screening
As we age, proactive screening becomes more important. Galleri is a cutting-edge blood test that screens for signals from over 50 types of cancer—before symptoms arise.
Ideal Candidates:
- Age 50+
- Family history of cancer
- Concerned about risk but feeling fine
Quote from Dr. Schneider:
“Galleri helps us stay ahead of disease—not chase it after it starts.”
Local Access: Empowered Health offers Galleri testing in our Richland office. Patients love that it’s simple, fast, and comprehensive.
What Our Team Uses: Favorite Wellness Tools
We asked the Empowered Health team to share their top personal health tools:
- Dr. Schneider: “A good sweat in the sauna is my favorite way to relax, reset, and support recovery.”
- Nurse Practitioner: “Loop earplugs and my Theragun Elite help me manage stress and muscle recovery.”
- Front Desk Team: “My 40 oz water bottle keeps me hydrated and energized all day.”
All of these tools promote better hydration, lower stress, and more consistent energy.
Regional Recommendation:
- High-Performance Nutrition (Kennewick): Great local spot for clean protein powders, hydration mixes, and nutrient-rich snacks.
- Nature’s Pantry (Richland): Carries quality supplements, including Thorne products.
Seasonal Shift: Why August Is the Perfect Health Checkpoint
August is more than a back-to-school season. It’s a recalibration point.
Scientific Bite:
In functional medicine, we view health as a feedback loop. If symptoms are subtle but persistent—like fatigue, brain fog, bloating—it often signals dysfunction in early stages.
These subtle signs are not normal, even if they’re common. We believe in early testing and lifestyle adjustments to stay ahead.
Your Reset Starts Now
If you’re feeling “off” but unsure where to start, we can help you translate vague symptoms into clear direction. Whether it’s testing, supplements, or lifestyle design, we work with you—not just your labs.
Schedule an inquiry call at our Richland clinic to begin your personalized fall reset.
Jessica Schneider, MD
Why Empowered Health.
Time between patient and physician is dictated increasingly by the health system and insurance reimbursement. At Empowered Health, we take a membership approach to primary care in Tri-Cities that challenges the standard healthcare model.
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