What are the most important tests to get?

For essential health tests, Andrew Huberman and Dr. Casey Means emphasize a few key blood tests that nearly everyone should consider including in their routine check-ups. These tests are crucial for assessing metabolic health and are often part of an annual physical examination:

1. Fasting Glucose: Measures blood sugar levels after fasting and helps assess insulin function and risk for diabetes.
2. Fasting Triglycerides: Evaluates fat levels in the blood, indicating heart health.
3. HDL Cholesterol: Known as "good" cholesterol, it helps gauge cardiovascular health.
4. Hemoglobin A1c: Reflects average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months, useful for diagnosing diabetes and pre-diabetes.
5. Total Cholesterol: Measures overall cholesterol levels, important for managing heart disease risk.
6. Waist Circumference: Helps assess risk for heart disease and diabetes when combined with BMI and other factors.
7. Blood Pressure: A vital indicator of cardiovascular health, high blood pressure increases risks of heart disease and stroke.

These tests are fundamental in identifying and managing metabolic syndrome, which includes conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels 1. Additionally, tools like 2 Inside Tracker are recommended for more comprehensive health monitoring through blood and saliva tests, which can also measure various metabolic markers and hormones.