Step on the scale lately?
Chances are, you know exactly how much you weigh — and you probably remember if you have high blood pressure or your cholesterol is off from your last check-up.
But there are some less obvious metrics that can tell you a whole lot about your health and are worth keeping an eye on.
There are thousands of different lab tests and assessments that doctors can recommend to help you paint a more complete picture of your health. The tricky part is knowing which to ask for — and which metrics to be aware of.
According to Chirag Panchal, DO/Orlando Health Physician Associates, Longwood, the routine testing that your GP might order for a standard physical will likely include a metabolic panel, a thyroid function test, a cholesterol panel and complete blood cell counts.
“These are all very valuable tests that screen for a wide range of conditions,” Panchal tells The Post.
But if you have additional concerns or questions about other areas of your health, these are some metrics doctors recommend you ask about.
1. Fasting insulin
To understand your insulin resistance — which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes when left unmanaged — Panchal says you’ll need to take a look at your fasting insulin, or your body’s insulin levels after an overnight fast.
A routine metabolic panel or Hemoglobin A1c will show your blood sugars or your average blood sugars respectively, Panchal says, but those alone may not alert your doctor to insulin resistance.
“I often tell my patients that the development of type 2 diabetes is gradual and does not happen overnight. This is why early recognition is important.”
If your labs indicate elevated fasting insulin levels, making dietary and lifestyle changes can help prevent the progression into type 2 diabetes.
2. Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy
Another thing to test for in your panel is your vitamin D level. An estimated two-thirds of Americans are vitamin D deficient, which can have implications on immune and muscle function, skeletal health, cardiovascular health (including risk of heart attack) and even depression and anxiety.
The easiest way to treat it is with a dietary supplement, Panchal says.
3. Ferritin
Also detectable in lab tests but treatable through supplementation? Iron deficiency.
A ferritin panel will alert you to low iron levels in the red blood cells, which transport oxygen. Low iron could be behind symptoms like fatigue, weakness, dizziness, decreased exercise tolerance, hair loss and restless leg syndrome, and is estimated to impact nearly a quarter of the population.
4. Waist circumference
When it comes to predicting your cardiovascular risk, a number on a scale might not carry as much weight as this one metric.
Alison MacKinlay, MD, assistant professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells The Post that it’s important to pay attention to waist circumference because it’s a clearer indicator of visceral fat levels.
Visceral fat “surrounds internal organs and is strongly linked to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes,” she explains.
And research shows that it can predict cardiovascular risk independently of body weight. Someone could have a “normal” weight, she says, “but still face elevated risk if they carry excess abdominal fat.”
Waist circumference is measured at the abdomen just on top of the hip bones after a normal exhale.
Men with waist measurements above 40 inches and women with measurements above 35 inches are at greater risk.
5. Heart rate variability
If you wear a smart watch or Oura ring, it’s likely that you’re already tracking your heart rate variability, or HRV. This, Panchal explains, measures the fluctuations between consecutive heart beats.
Research suggests that HRV is an indication of the balance between an individual’s sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
A higher HRV might explain better cardiovascular fitness and function, and a person’s resilience in the face of stress. A lower HRV could be connected to chronic stress, systemic illness, poor sleep quality and poor fitness level.
Regardless of what you may decide to test for, Panchal cautions that it’s always essential to interpret the results with the help of your doctor.
“What gets measured gets managed. Small, incremental improvements are the name of the game to advance your health,” he says. “Progress over perfection.”
