Hypodermic Needle (Flickr)

It may seem silly to go all the way to America from the UK to get blood tests done, but is it so silly?

Once you have decided to have blood tests done, you start to look at the cost. And once you look at the cost, it’s a no-brainer.

Let’s say you are going to get several panels of tests done. (A panel is just a ‘related bunch’ of tests.) Maybe you will get a basic male or female panel: then a few others, depending on what you want to measure or check. I might get c-reactive protein, haemoglobin A1c, homocysteine, a thyroid panel and cholesterol VAP test – the type which gives you much more detail about different kinds of cholesterol.

In America, these can be done for, perhaps, £300 ($400) (if you go when Life Extension Foundation has its annual ‘sale’)

In the UK you are getting towards several times that cost. So it makes sense to visit the States – and make a holiday out of it. It works for me!

Related Articles For Blood Tests

• How is a cholesterol test performed? (zocdoc.com)
• Can tests for your health condition help? (latestmedifastcouponcodes.wordpress.com)
• What does a annual physical consist of? (zocdoc.com)

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Blood tests in USA (Wikipedia)

In America, many people have annual blood tests. It’s commonplace. In the UK it happens hardly at all. Well, it is so expensive over here.

In the USA I can get 80 or so blood tests done for around £300-400. ($450-600) That is very cheap.

In the UK, one blood test can cost over £100.

It is my aim to demonstrate to you how you can monitor your health by having regular blood tests done. To this end, I have had a series of three blood tests now. The last set was nearly 2 years ago in Denver. This time I had some done in Palm Springs, and then some done in San Francisco.

I did not intend to split them! But after the initial tests in Palm Springs, I got an email from the lab, saying they hadn’t taken enough blood! So I had to go back a second time to have more blood drawn. Fortunately, I was checking emails while in the States.

Being the third time I have had tests done, I’m beginning to get the hang of interpreting them.

The first time I had them done I really didn’t have much of a clue. I have been in alternative medicine for 30 years, but analysing blood tests has never been part of what I have done.

Now, I can see that each time I have them done, I’m beginning to understand more and more about them.

I have an adviser, fortunately, who is an expert in interpreting blood tests and can help me. Handy. But I have to learn more myself as I go along.

One particular concern this time is my borderline-high cholesterol. My partner also has this. I am researching it carefully to find out what I should be doing to deal with it. Or, in fact, if I should be doing anything.

I’m reading a book called “The Great Cholesterol Con”. This explores the hypothesis that cholesterol does not lead to heart disease. Interesting, but it might be left field. I’m  not sure though – the author has a ton of evidence.

I now need to do loads of research on the blood tests – both for myself and for my partner. I will let you know a summary of my findings, and what I intend to do about them.

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(Here is a brief summary for new readers:  I started my anti-aging, or longevity, quest in March 2008 when I visited Fort Lauderdale for 63 blood tests. Then I had to interpret them as best as I could.)

In July 2009 I decided to get more professional input, and visited Dr Terry Grossman in Denver for a repeat of the tests, a few more besides, and more personal advice.

In October 2009 (OK – I dragged my feet a bit) I had a review, via Skype, of the results of the tests Terry had carried out for me.

Wow – Skype video! Fantastic. It was near to the effect of being in Terry Grossman’s offices.

Key Health Points

Key points were:

• My total cholesterol is high
• My genetic profile shows no particular inherited concerns
• My biological age is 19 years younger than my physical age – a near record for the clinic
• I need to enhance my exercise regime to keep up the good results I have had.

I am now starting my ‘new regime’. My main aim is to reduce my cholesterol – through diet  and supplements.

My Health – The Next Step is a post from: Living To 150

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I have now received a comprehensive written report from visiting Dr Terry Grossman’s clinic in Denver. There are few surprises.

Blood sugar is a little higher than I would like. Homcysteine is higher than it was last year; that means increased heart disease risk so I will increase B vitamins and folic acid to deal with this.

My LDL cholesterl is even higher than last year. However, this time a VAP test (more in depth that the usual cholesterol test) reveals that many of these LDL particles are the worse, smaller kinds, which are more of a heart risk.

I will need to address this. How, I will know after talking to Terry Grossman for my follow-up consultation.

Apart from this news is good. Inherited factors are not bad; my ‘H-scan’ result places me at 38 years old biologically -  19 years younger than my physical age; and one or two environmental toxns need sorting out with a course of chelaton therapy.

After my telephone consultaton I will carry out Terry’s recommendations.Then he wants some repeat blood tests to monitor the hoped-for improvements.

So I will probably pop over to New York to have the retests. This seems crazy but is necessary for three reasons: 1. It’s good if the same lab does the tests – for comparison purposes; 2. Blood tests cost a fortune in the UK: 3. Sending blood to the States is very expensive – and if it’s delayed, it’s ‘dead’.

Anyway, it’s an excuse for a few days’ break in New York. I can go and see the stunning gospel choir in the Bronx I saw last time.

I also plan to try and get my parents to go over to have some basic blood tests at that time.

Question: Would you travel 3000 miles to get blood tests if you knew it would help you look after your health – and possible avoid cancer and heart disease? Leave a comment.

Health Report Has Arrived is a post from: Living To 150

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I am waiting for my health results which will come from my £4k spend in Frontier Clinic, Denver. Yes – pricey. But I think worth it.

I am expecting my pack of results any day, and this will be followed by an hour consultation with Dr Terry Grossman – who I really like and trust, in fact.

What will it reveal? The blood tests hold no fear – as they are repeats of those done a year ago. So I know I am basically fine, but will get extra info on my high cholesterol level. This must be genetic – do I need to worry – and if so what can I do about it?

The other major factor is that I have genetic tests coming back. In other words, I will know some of the genetic diseases which I am more liable to get.

Anyway, I think I am in good hands.

Living to 150 is the (interim) aim – and I feel sure Terry Grossman can help.

I will report back when the results arrive.

Question: Would you spend £4,000 ($6,000) on a health assessment? Post a comment.

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Continuing a review of the lifestyle changes I made after last year’s blood tests in Fort Lauderdale (April 2008), I will summarize the changes I made.

They were:

1. Avoiding glycation

2. Reducing the amount of sugar in my diet

3. Increasing exercise

In this entry I look briefly at:

3. Increasing exercise

My exercise regime a year ago was not great. I used to play racquetball once a week, and that had stopped. I would walk for half an hour or an hour sporadically. I was doing no weight training. I had started yoga and did this for 10-15 minutes most days.

I decided to get more organized!

1. I started to walk quickly for  20-30 minutes 2-3 times a week.

2. I joined the gym, just for the strength building exercise. I carried out a programme for 45 minutes 2-3 times a week.

3. I joined a tennis club and loved it, such that I played 3 times most weeks.

These were the changes I made after my blood tests in early 2008, which I managed to keep up pretty well to date.

I was now ready to review my lifestyle changes in the light of the recommendations of Dr Terry Grossman and his colleagues.

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Continuing a review of the lifestyle changes I made after last year’s blood tests in Fort Lauderdale (April 2008), I will sumarize the changes I made.

They were, basically:

1. Avoiding glycation.

2. Reducing sugar – of all types – in my diet

3. Increasing exercise

In this entry I look briefly at:

2. Reducing the amount of sugar in my diet

After my last blood tests it became clearer to me just how much of my diet consisted of sugar. Bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruit, sweet vegetables – all had a high proportion of sugar. Juiced fruit is as sugar rich as soda (eg cola) without having the natural fruit fibre to slow absorption down. And a high level of sugar in the diet correlates with Metabolic Syndrome, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

So I did the following:

1.  Virtually cut out potatoes, rice, pasta and bread in daily use.

2. Cut out fruit juices and smoothies with fruit.

3. Chose my cooked vegetables to reduce sweet ones – carrots, peas, sweet corn, swwet peppers, parsnips; and focus on none-sweet – greens, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans.

4. When eating the sweet vegetables, I tried to eat them raw, eg with humus.

This had the effect of my eating fish and salad or chicken and salad for many meals.

Next I look at My Lifestyle Change – Exercise

——————–

Question: What do you think about cutting down all starchy food in your diet? Potatoes, pasta, even rice? Post a comment

My Lifestyle Changes – Sugar is a post from: Living To 150

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Getting healthier is incremental – bit by bit – for most people. You cannot do it all at once. It might be helpful if I to write down some of my own incremental lifestyle changes.

The lifestyle changes I made after last year’s blood tests in Fort Lauderdale (April 2008) were as follows.

1. Avoiding glycation

2. Reducing the amount of sugar in my diet

3. Increasing exercise

After this year’s visit to see Terry Grossman, I will make further changes, no doubt. For now, let’s look at these factors one by one.

1. Avoiding glycation.

I reduced the amount of food I cooked at high temperatures. This was to avoid glycation.

For example, I substituted frying my salmon for poaching or steaming it. Stir-frys became a ‘quick fry’ followed by steaming in a little liquid.

I stopped frying curry onions and spices before adding the liquid – I just put it all together to cook.

When cooking in foil in the oven, I cook for an hour at 250 degrees F (gas mark 1.5) instead of a hot oven for 20 minutes.

The food still tastes great. I love poached or steamed salmon now. I like to poach it in vegetable stock, or wine, or just some water with a little soy sauce or Worcestershire Sauce. Add some flavouring to taste – onions, garlic, chili seeds, chopped peppers – and steam for 5 minutes a side.

In the oven – add the same vegetables, pour a little olive oil over. You can also add sliced courgette, mushrooms, etc. A fantastic meal when you add a side salad or a few extra steamed green vegetables.

I still occasionally have fried food – but rarely cook it  except for the quick start to my stir-frys.

Next I look at My Lifestyle Changes – Sugar

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I am in Denver ready to meet with Dr Terry Grossman in two days at his anti-aging clinic.

I have signed up to a two day health assessment and series of consultations with Terry himself, his wife, a practitioner in nutrition and Chinese medicine, and others.

I want to build on the blood tests I had done a year ago, following which I have made lifestyle changes. These include dietary changes, exercise changes and devising a supplement plan.

I hope to have all these changes checked by the clinic.  Also, new blood and other tests will be carried out, and further recommendations made.

I am quite excited to hear what is recommended.

I think the clinic will also apply a test which shows an estimate of my ‘bodily age’ compared to my physical age. This will be a useful benchmark for future treatments to gauge their effects.

Denver is a lovey city, and has a great temperature in July. After my visit to the clinic, my partner and I will tour round the Rocky Mountains for 2 weeks before returning home.

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My main aim is to live to 150 – at least to start off with.

(It’s said that the first person who will still be healthy at 200 is already living.)

So with that aim in mind I need to prepare myself for my trip to Denver, Colorado to see Terry Grossman, in July 2009.

What do I want to achieve?

Three main things.

1. Firstly, to have new blood tests taken, so that I can compare these with the ones I had done last year at Life Extension Foundation, and get the clinic’s views on them.
2. Secondly, to have a more detailed health assessment done, and so further review my health status.
3. Thirdly, to get the clinic’s views on my lifestyle, and how that is affecting my health, looked at against the backdrop of the blood tests.

New Blood Tests

It will be interesting to see how my blood test have changed compared to last year.

My main concerns with the blood tests were:

• High cholesterol. My total cholesterol was 235 mg/dl. This is about 6 in the UK measurement, and so about 30% too high. LDL and HDL were similarly high. However, my total cholesterol/HDL ratio was pretty good. Triglycerides were also good, at 72 mg/dl. (What is cholesterol?)
• Blood sugar. Fasting blood sugar was 102 mg/dl, or 5.6mmol/l in UK terms. Optimal is between 70 and 85.  So 102 is high. However, haemoglobin A-1 C was 5.6%, which is good. This is a measure of blood sugar over the past three-months. Also, fasting insulin was good at less than 2 mIU/dl.
• Hormones. My free testosterone was measured at 9.1 pg per millilitre. This is within the recommended range, but low within the range. Thyroid hormones again, were low within the normal range.

I will be looking to see whether the new blood tests reflect similar values to the old ones – from a year ago.

It will be interesting to hear the clinic’s personal recommendations. Last year I had only support via the telephone, which was not ideal. This one-to-one advice will be more helpful.

Preparing for My Health Review is a post from: Living To 150

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I have definitely decided now to visit Dr Terry Grossman’s clinic in Denver, Colorado, in July 2009.

Terry heads one of the leading anti-aging clinics in the world. I met him last November at Convergence08, and was impressed by his knowledge and demeanour.

The 2-day programme is not cheap; but it is comprehensive. It is different from the blood tests I had done in Fort Lauderdale last year in that there are extra tests; and there is a lot more interpretation. The clinic’s approach seems to be more ‘here’s how to develop a programme for life yourself’.

The Grossman Wellness programmes

It’s a long way to go, but I am creating a number of travel websites and will make Colorado the focus of one of them, thus killing two birds with one stone.  By all accounts Colorado is a beautiful state – especially in July.

Over the next few weeks I will highlight some of the treatments I will be having.

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Inflammation is shown, in this image, affecting some of the major joints. We all know and understand this type.

But Generalised Inflammation is something that we all need to be aware of – whether or not we have aches and pains.

Generalised Inflammation is present in many people – and they rarely know about it.

This insidious type of inflammation is implicated in all major degenerative diseases:

• Heart disease
• Artery disease
• Some cancers
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Diabetes

In other words, many studies have shown that a significant number of the people suffering from these diseases

have generalised inflammation, demonstrated by blood tests.

As these diseases occur more as we age, I think we can usefully add:

• Aging

to the list of diseases which inflammation causes.

Measuring Inflammation

Inflammation can be detected by testing the blood for c-reactive protein (molecule pictured left) and fibrinogen. If the levels of these two are high, bringing them down can usually be fairly easily achieved through the right vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbs.

More Information

As well as my more detailed article on Inflammation, here are links to some books on the topic from Amazon UK:

Stop Inflammation Now!
The Inflammation Syndrome
The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan

Essential To Address If We Are To Get – And Stay – Healthy

Inflammation is a crucial issue to address to slow down aging and the onset of degenerative diseases. I find it fascinating that this issue is:

• Easy to measure (through blood tests)
• Usually easy to treat
• Therefore within our individual control

And also that it is:

• Talked about by hardly anyone who is charged with looking after our health.

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To remain healthy as we age there are processes we must deal with. In particular, there are four major causes of cell damage – which will reduce their function or kill them. I call these processes the “four -ations”.

The “four -ations” are:

1. Methylation
2. Oxidation
3. Glycation
4. Inflammation

It is possible to address each of these four processes successfully thereby reducing them significantly. It is also possible to measure our improvement by using blood tests.

Methylation

What is Methylation?

Methylation is a fundamental detox process occurring constantly in every cell, without which it could not function. Chemically, it is the process of moving a methyl group – CH3 – around in a cycle. For this to happen, there has to be a source for the required methyl groups – the raw material; there also need to be certain catalysts present – primarily B vitamins – to enable the cycle to happen.

A lack of either raw material or the required catalysts causes a blockage to the cycle leading to serious health issues.

Why does Methylation Lead To Aging?

Methylation is a detox process. When it is working well, the body can:

• Destroy cancer-causing toxins
• Repair damage DNA
• Produce certain anti-aging hormones

When methylation is not working well, degeneration and aging will occur. For example, deficient methylation is probably the most important indicator of heart and artery disease. In fact, although much less well-known, methylation is a more important indicator than cholesterol level.

This lack of awareness is largely because of the huge publicity afforded to cholesterol lowering drugs – statins – and the massive profits they produce. It is also a ‘time thing’: it typically takes 25 years for the medical profession and the newspapers to come around to a new idea, in this case the fact that methylation is so vitally important.

Oxidation

What is Oxidation?

Oxidation is the loss of an electron by an atom or molecule. If an important molecule loses an electron – say a vital protein or an enzyme – this can easily cause serious damage.

This oxidation is caused by FREE RADICALS. Free radicals are produced as part of many body processes. The body has evolved to counteract their production. ANTI-OXIDANTS will immediately immobilize free radicals. Too many free radical increase aging; by mopping them up, anti-oxidants reduce aging.

Why Does Oxidation Lead to Aging?

If there are not enough anti-oxidants to make safe the number of free radicals, the free radicals start to disrupt the body’s healthy cells. Many body processes can easily be disrupted in this way, leading to widespread damage and aging.

Glycation

What is Glycation?

Glycation is a damaging combination of a sugar molecule with a protein molecule to create a distorted structure. As the amount of glycation increases these damaged structures tangle together and start to produce huge numbers of free radicals. These are called ‘AGEs’ – Advanced Glycation End-products.

Why Does Glycation Lead To Aging?

Glycated tissue is hard and inflexible. It is responsible for wrinkling of skin – a clear sign of aging. It also produces similarly inflexible tissues throughout the body. The organs worst affected by glycation are those where flexibility is crucial: the brain, heart, eyes and kidneys.

These effects of glycation bring on aging rapidly.

Inflammation

What Is Inflammation?

Generally, inflammation is characterised by heat, swelling and pain. However the type of inflammation which leads to aging is insidious; it is LOW GRADE inflammation which can permeate the whole body. This does not announce itself by heat, swelling and pain; but can only easily be detected through blood tests.

Why Does Inflammation Lead To Aging

More and more research is showing a positive link between low grade inflammation and:

• Heart and artery disease
• Alzheimer’s disease, and
• Cancer

The processes through which low grade inflammation promotes these serious degenerative diseases lead inexorably to aging and death at an earlier age than would otherwise happen.

The Importance Of Dealing With The ’4 -ations’

Dealing with the “4 ations” are a vital part of any anti-aging programme. They are dealt with quite easily if there is a willingness to change your diet and take some nutrients and herbs.

These 4 aging process can be measured while undergoing changes in diet and supplement intake. It is then possible to see if your chosen approach to dealing with these important issues is effective.

For more information on each of the ‘-ations’ see these articles: Methylation, Oxidation, Glycation and Inflammation.

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I hate to report this, but a solid study has shown that drinking orange juice once a day increase type II diabetes risk.

The reason I hate to report it, is because many people will be as shocked as I was – or even disbelieving – when first hearing that their morning ‘health’ drink could actually be unhealthy.

But it is true.

The Whole Fruit, Nothing But The Fruit

All fruit juices are similar to sugar water. True, the sugar is not glucose; it’s fructose. But it still spikes up blood sugar after drinking it.

The whole fruit contains fibre which slows sugar absorption down. The juice has most or all of the fibre removed so that the passage of sugar into the blood stream is rapid.

The Path To Diabetes (type II)

The 3-step pattern leading to diabetes can then emerge:

1. Sugar in the blood demands insulin, from the pancreas. Insulin influences ‘receptors’ in the cell walls to allow sugar to pass inside.
2. Over time the cell wall receptors become less responsive to repeated insulin insults. The pancreas has to produce more and more for the same result.
3. The overworked pancreas becomes can’t keep up with the demand for insulin. Blood sugar builds up and diabetes is present.

Avoid Diabetes – And Delay Aging

A feature of diabetes is that sufferers get aging diseases much earlier than the rest of us.

This is why diabetics tend to get problems with heart and arteries, kidneys and eyes at a relatively young age. Control of the diabetes is essential; and for most, perfectly possible.

Control Through Diet

Although input from an experienced practitioner is always helpful, one of the main approaches to dealing with Type II diabetes (also called ‘maturity onset’ diabetes) is through a rigorous diet.

This is the same diet as a ‘healthy aging’ diet, but with more care taken to keep blood sugar low.

This means reducing intake of sugar and starches (mainly potatoes, pasta, rice and bread) dramatically such that your blood sugar remains at a low-normal level – not just a moderate level.

Blood sugar can be monitored through regular blood tests.

A practitioner can advise on supplements to be used. Also see:

• Life Extension Foundation – diabetes for a great article
• Life Extension Magazine August 2008, p67 "Metabolic Disease and Heart Attack, which is very relevant. 
• www.meta-syndrome.com for information on Metabolic Syndrome.

Finally, here is:

• A report of the Orange Juice study

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Avoiding facial wrinkles is a big issue for many people – especially many women. Some resort to extreme measures such as injecting toxins into the skin – Botox – or surgical operations.

However, this ignores the main functional problem produced by  wrinkles; they don’t just affect the face, but affect the whole body. In fact, the main problem with wrinkles is that they reduce the flexibility of organs which need to be flexible. Facial wrinkles are just the external indication of the main problem; glycation.

By reducing the flexibility off the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes glycation promotes aging.

So, to help you keep looking young externally, and also to help you keep young internally, addressing glycation is a key issue.

The Main Causes Of Glycation

The Main causes are:

1. Blood glucose, which is too high.
2. Eating foods cooked at temperatures which are too high

1. High Blood Glucose

A continually high level of blood glucose promotes glycation. The main solution, for most people is dramatically to cut down the amount of starch in the diet; bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Ideally, don’t eat any. Practically, reduce to a bare minimum.

Preferably, monitor blood glucose level with blood tests.

2. Food Cooked At High Temperature

Food cooked at temperatures above 250°F promote glycation. To avoid this, avoid frying, grilling, roasting, [and broiling]. Prepare foods uncooked [salads], and use slow cooking, steaming, simmering, stews to prepare your food.

Ideally, make sure all the food you eat is prepared in this way. Practically, only eat foods cooked at high temperatures on rare occasions, such as when visiting friends.

Practical application

When eating out, it’s a fairly simple matter to choose foods which follow these guidelines. Salad-and-something is a common option; or or a protein choice plus mixed vegetables – hold the potatoes.

As in all things, don’t strain too much to avoid glycated foods 100%. But 95% is great – and it will help your skin, long term.

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Does anyone know a good place to get blood tests in the UK?

It needs to offer a good range of tests – eg including Haemoglobin A1c – as well as the more usual ones; and preferably be a reasonable price.

Any suggestions gratefully received as I not only want them myself, but other people I talk to want them too. Understandably, not everyone is prepared to go to America as I did.

Please leave a comment if you have any ideas.

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A friend was concerned about arthritis as she aged. Having an aging father in law in poor health made her think of her own state of health. Systemic inflammation is one factor to take seriously.

Systemic inflammation is when there is general ‘background’ inflammation without pain or symptoms – at least initially. For this reason it is insidious as it can just creep up on you. The joints and muscles can slowly degenerate without you realising it.

The same inflammation is a major cause of a host of other diseases including heart and artery disease; some cancers; Alzheimer’s disease, as well as conditions due to thickened blood such as angina and clouded thinking.

Systemic inflammation can be indicated through blood tests for C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen. If both of these are low, this is a good sign that systemic inflammation is not rampant in your body.

My own measures for these two are: CRP – 0.82 mg/L, and 149 mg/dL of fibrinogen. The ‘reference range’ (range within which the lab suggests the results are ok) for CRP is 0-3 mg/L and for fibrinogen 193-423 mg/dL.

This makes my CRP within the good range; but I think .5 is even more desirable than .82 (says Philip Miller).

My fibrinogen level is lower than the reference range. The lab’s doctor says this is a good thing. I wonder why it is so low. High fibrinogen thickens the blood; low fibrinogen should thin the blood. This might be expected to make me bleed more easily, which I do not experience – at least not yet  

Systemic inflammation is one of the 4 key ‘-ations’ identified by Philip Miller (Life Extension Revolution, Ch 7) as being crucial to address if you wish to achieve healthy aging.

Treatment is simple; change your diet to exclude inflammatory factors (such as Omega 6 fatty acids) and take a mixture of herbs including:

• Nettles
• Circumin (Turmeric)
• Ginger

and supplements, including:

• DHEA
• Vitamin K
• Bromelain

Then you need to retest the blood to see if what you did worked. A lot of hassle, but it’s worth it to help avoid degenerative diseases.

Afterwards, an annual blood test will check everything is still ok. This should be part of a regular health routine.

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I now have to decide on my initial treatment for longevity, based on my blood test results.

I have taken Life Extension Foundation‘s Life Extension Mix (a very special multi-mineral/vitamin mix) for around 6 months. I did this on purpose prior to taking the blood tests. This may well have boosted levels of certain blood components up to their current good levels.

Eg, chromium, zinc and selenium are often found to be deficient; my chromium and zinc were fine; the selenium I don’t know because that was the one test which did not come out for technical reasons.

My 3 aims for treatment now are:

A reduction in fasting glucose levels. (Because of the generally damaging effects on the body of any more than a low level of blood glucose)

A reduction in total cholesterol. Mine is 235mg/dL (6mmol/L), and the target is around 180mg/dL (4.6mmol/L).

A reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP). Mine is good at .82mg/L; ideal is less than 0.5mg/L. CRP is a strong indicator of low-grade inflammation in the body which promotes heart and artery disease, cancers and arthritis.

Next – my programme to achieve these aims.

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From my blood tests for longevity, the overall test results I have received are good.

Kidney and liver show no malfunction. There are good to very good signs that cancer, heart disease and arthritic tendencies are not present. Prostate signs are good.

Thyroid indications are good. Vitamins B12 and D are good. Glycation level is good. (If bad, this causes faster aging by speeding up wrinkling of the skin and throughout the body)

Two Areas In Need of Attention

1. Blood glucose is at the beginning of the high range. This is not a great cause for concern; as the insulin tests shows the pancreas is working well; and the are good signs that metabolic syndrome is not present to any degree. However, I would be happier if the level was lower.

2. Both LDL (‘bad’) and HDL (‘good’) cholesterol are high. This means that the ratio between them – which is key – is good. Triclyceride levels – fats in the blood – are good, which lends weight to he view that the fat and cholesterol situation is not dangerous.

However, I would like the LDL to be lower.

Conclusion

LEF say that these two high results could well involve genetic factors. This is strengthened by the fact that my diet is low in carbohydrates and dietary cholesterol, and that no liver malfunction is indicated.

These tests have been extremely useful. I have been able to use some test results to check the implications of others. I feel I have had a very good assessment of my general level of health. Keeping a regular check – say, annual – should help highlight any problems early, for relatively easy treatment.

Tomorrow I will talk about my next steps.

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I plan to interpret my own blood tests, using my studies of anatomy and some biochemistry in my career, LEF (Life Extension Foundation) advice line; the books I have, particularly by Philip Miller (Life Extension Revolution), Internet searches; and advice from a knowledgeable friend in the UK. I am not an expert in blood test interpretation, but with this help I should be able to get a fair way.

I will get as far as I can in improving my test results, and then consult a life extension specialist to go further.

The Tests Which Were Done

I’ve had just over about 60 tests carried out by Life Extension Foundation. These are to test:

• The sugar in the blood/insulin response
• Kidneys
• Liver

• Electrolytes
• Cholesterol and triglycerides
• Homocysteine (heart and artery health)
• Prostate
• Some hormones – Testosterone, DHEA, Estradiol
• C-Reactive Protein (indicates ‘systemic inflammation’)
• White and red blood cell numbers and shapes
• Thyroid hormones – 3 tesets
• Vitamins B12, D
• Hemoglobin A1c (test for ‘glycation’ – which causes wrinkling of skin and vital organs)

I will talk about the results next post.

Blood Tests For Longevity – Details Of Mine is a post from: Living To 150

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