Anti aging tests are well worth doing. If you are approaching 50 (or if age 50 is in your rear view mirror) you might want to raise the issue with your health care provider. Getting some baseline numbers before you have major problems will allow your health care provider to ensure that your numbers stay in the optimal range. You do not want to learn you have low Vitamin D, for example, after you have developed symptoms.
Listed below is a basic list of tests. Some are quite common. If you have been hospitalized, for example, you are likely to have had a CBC chemistry profile and possibly some of the others. Read through the list and if you have not had some of them or if you have not had them
in the last few year (or for women since menopause) do raise the issue of Anti aging tests with your health care provider.
If your health care provider just shrugs off the whole idea of Anti aging tests, you might reconsider your on-going relationship - whether this is the best health care provider as you age.
Of course one alternative would be to go to one of the walk-in medical clinics, tell the professional on duty that since you are getting older, you would like to get baseline results on some of the recommended Anti aging tests. Most health care providers would be willing to write the script for such testing. (Some might be able to do the testing right there.)
After you get the results, you can decide about sharing them
with your regular medical provider. (Of course it would be best to share them - especially if there were some test that came outside the normal range.) And if you are concerned about how your regular health care provider will react to your having tests s/her refused, you can always say, "After I left last time, I got thinking about these tests and
the fact that they are so often recommended to persons over age xxx that I just decided to get baseline testing done so we have it on record. I do have some questions and I trust that you will be willing to answer them." Then ask your questions, politely but firmly.
Listen to the answers and if there is something you do not understand, do ask for clarification. Most health care providers
want to be helpful to their clients. We just need to indicate where we need that help.
But you may be asking why have these particular tests? What good will they do?
Establishing a base line for DHEA, testosterone, HGH and IGF-1 is helpful and can be used for the proper focus of treatment as you age since they can show if you are showing major signs of aging. In some cases, Vitamin D or thyroid replacement therapy, can make a great difference in cognitive function and overall health status.
Here is the recommended annual panel for women.
CBC/Chemistry panel
Homocysteine
CRP (C-reactive protein) Both are associated with heart health.
DHEA-S
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) - These often decrease with age and supplementation is importnat.
Progesterone
Free Testosterone
Estradiol
Total Testosterone
Vitamin D 25-hydroxy - NOTE: Vitamin D is not only necessary for bone health but low vitamin D is often associated with cancer AND it can result in cognitive confusion and decline. Supplementation is easy. But levels need to be retested since too much supplementation can lead to levels that risk the developement of artial fibralation etc.
Here is the recommended panel for men.
CBC/Chemistry panel
Homocysteine
CRP (C-reactive protein)
DHEA-S
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
Free Testosterone
Estradiol
PSA (prostate-specific antigen)
Total Testosterone
Vitamin D 25-hydroxy
Some researchers also recommend the following tests:
Lipid Profile (Yes, your cholesterol)
HS Cancer Antigen (CA) 125 (Female only)
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Ferritin, Serum (Male Only)
Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT)
Hemoglobin A1c
Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1)
Iron, Serum w/ TIBC
Insulin, Fasting
Luteinizing Hormone(LH)
Magnesium, Serum
Sex Hormone binding Globulin,
And a routine Urinalysis.
So there is the list of useful Anti aging tests. For many of these it is not just about finding current anomolies. Establishing a baseline is important for those who want to stay on top of their health as they age.
For those who enjoy reading scientific studies:
Anti Aging Tests: indicators of 'healthy aging' in older women.
Read more articles about: Healthy Aging
Home | Privacy | Financial Disclosure | Donate