While getting old may beat the alternative, living in denial is a comfortable choiceand a lot more pleasant than your first colonoscopy. The annual checkup at your doctors office covers the basics, but a truly thorough medical exam will involve trips to several offices, with the usual long waits and patients stacked up like planes over Chicagos OHare. Two years ago one of my closest friends died from a coronary that absolutely could have been prevented had he only taken the time from his crazy work schedule and family obligations for a checkup.
With baby boomers starting to age, there has been a proliferation of facilities offering comprehensive executive physicals. Having just turned 50 myself, I figured this might be a good time to see how the examsand my bodyhave evolved. Among the best-known options, the Mayo and Cleveland clinics, along with the Johns Hopkins, Duke, UCLA, and Stanford units, are all associated with major hospitalswhich is useful should serious complications be found or immediate treatment be recommended. According to the Mayo Clinic, less than 5 percent of its exams revealed potentially life-threatening conditions and almost half exposed risk factors for serious illness. These centers draw patients from all over the world and focus not just on medical needs but a lifestyle approach as well. The Cleveland Clinic even offers programs through the Canyon Ranch spa resorts. Also available are a number of private diagnostic centers that only perform physical exams, such as the Princeton Longevity Center in New Jersey and Texass Cooper Clinics. I chose the PLC strictly for its convenience, but some might be more comfortable going to a hospital. Others prefer to go the true luxury route and turn their physical into a spa holiday or fit it into a resort vacation. To me, though, the chance of getting some bad medical news before my kelp facial could be a real buzz kill.
As at most centers, the day in the PLC started at the scanning facility, replete with state-of-the-art, 64-slice CT machines. I was then shuttled around the main office, given every sort of workup imaginable, and promised a full report on my mortality within hours. Some centers recommend full-body CT scans for patients over 45. While they can be lifesavers, they are also controversial. Dr. Reginald Munden, interim chair of the department of Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, says, Im not comfortable with a shotgun approach to screening, citing the limited sensitivity of scans to common cancer lesions and the small but significant increase in cancer risk from more radiation exposure. There is also the issue of false positives: Up to 80 percent of such tests may find something that can lead to what Munden calls a spiral of expensive and anxiety-provoking follow-up scans with few meaningful results. Interestingly, just as risky can be false negativesbeing told the scan shows no problems to be concerned about. This can lead some people to continue damaging behavior, such as smoking, or to ignore new symptoms.
Of course, there are many stories of serious problems being caught. Doctors at the clinics have received numerous e-mails from patients whose renal cancer or developing aneurysm was detected early, possibly saving their lives. In fact, the day I was at the PLC an exinvestment banker discovered, after 53 years, that he was born with only one kidney. Balancing the risks against the benefits of a scan is a personal decision, and any clinic should provide you with plenty of information to allow you to make an educated evaluation. Dr. Richard S. Lang, who heads the section of preventive medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, explained that while the scans may not be for everyone, they certainly offer additional information to a patients profile and, so long as the findings are managed properly, can be of great valueeven if just as a baseline for future exams.
After the CTs and blood tests are completed, you can expect a very detailed and unrushed physical from a senior staffer instead of the usual Cliffs Notes version offered by your GP. Every aspect of your medical history will be checkedyou will be asked to send copies of all available reports in advanceand any issues, aches, or pains considered. I then had a challenging cardiovascular stress test and gym session with senior exercise physiologist Chris Volgraf. A highly educated trainer and professional strength coach, he completely changed my perspective on my own workout regimen and showed me a series of warm-ups and exercises designed to make my gym time safer, more efficient, and more effective.
Lunch was followed by a vision and hearing test, a bone density and body composition scan, and a meeting with a nutritionist, who evaluated the three-day food log I had been asked to keep.
When all the tests were done, the biggest difference between a full day at one of the clinics and a quick routine maintenance check became clear: A senior doctor sits down with you and reviews the results of every test in detail and their implications. Seeing rotating, 3-D, full-color computer images of your internal organs can be disquieting. Dr. David Fein, medical director and founder of the PLC, told me that one of the most effective tools in convincing patients to modify their unhealthy lifestyle is showing them their blocked arteries or the vascular fat wrapped around their vital organs in high-definition splendor. You can point to it and say Thats a picture of your heart attack, or your type 2 diabetes diagnosis in five years. Pushing the predictive envelope, the Duke Executive Health Program will soon offer a cutting-edge genomic DNAbased assessment that screens for certain genetic risks.
I left the PLC with a hefty binder, complete with test results and a disc containing copies of my scans, to give to my personal physician. In my opinion anyone who can afford it, or whose employer or insurer will pay, should immediately sign up for a visit to one of the top clinics and return at reasonable intervals. The Mayo Clinic quotes studies showing that companies can save as much as 20 percent in additional medical claims and 45 percent in extra sick days taken by executives who have regularly undergone thorough physicals. Its unlikely you have ever gotten so complete and detailed a review of not just the results but also the meaning of routine medical tests, as well as specific and practical advice on diet and exercise. While affiliation with a hospital or a major medical clinic is obviously a plus, the most important thing a diagnostic center can do for you is get you in the door. So if traveling makes you less likely to go, pick a center nearby.
centerforpartnershipmedicine.com Location: Chicago, IL Program:1 day Approx. Cost: $3,000$6,000
clevelandclinic.org; executivehealthprogram.com Location: Cleveland, OH; Weston, FL; Toronto; Canyon Ranch (AZ, MA) Program:13 days Approx. Cost: from $3,000
cooperaerobics.com/clinic Location: Dallas and McKinney, TX Program:1 day Approx. Cost: $1,800$4,000
dukeexechealth.org Location: Durham, NC Program:1 day Approx. Cost: $2,800
execmd.com Location: Menlo Park, CA Program:1/2 day Approx. Cost: $2,000$2,600
hopkinsmedicine.org/gim/clinical/executive_health Location: Baltimore, MD Program:1 day Approx. Cost: $1,800$2,200
mayoclinic.org/executive-health Location: Rochester, MN; Scottsdale, AZ; Jacksonville, FL Program:12 days Approx. Cost: $1,500$6,000
theplc.net Location: Princeton, NJ Program:1 day Approx. Cost: $3,250
exechealth.ucla.edu Location: Los Angeles, CA Program:1 day Approx. Cost: from $2,400
Original post: The Big Physical: Where to Go, What to Get | Departures
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By Dr. Mercola
Many have studied the reasons for longevity. Why do some people live longer than others? Is it genetics? Is it culture, or perhaps lifestyle?
James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation, delved into the prevailing mystery of why some groups of people live longer than others. What he found you might find surprising. I certainly did. The number one social factor that correlated with long life was not geographic region or health or socioeconomic status, but education.
Among the most important things you can do to help lengthen your childrens lives is to keep them in school, according to Dr. Smith. And hes not the only one who has come to this conclusion, as you will discover in this New York Times article.1
The National Institute on Aging finds education is the most important social factor for longevity in study after study, dominating other factors such as income, race and health insurance. Columbia University graduate student Adriana Lleras-Muney found that your life expectancy at age 35 is extended by one and a half years simply by going to school for one extra year.
These findings imply that sinking our precious national dollars into health insurance programs will never give us as much bang for our buck as directing those funds toward education.
Dr. Smith suggests education may teach people how to delay gratification and think ahead. Education may teach you how to plan for your future, as opposed to simply living for the moment. Besides education, what other social factors may extend your life?
Harvard Professor of Public Policy Lisa Berkman cites social isolation as a significant factor in longevity. If youre socially isolated, you may experience poor health and a shorter lifespan. This may be, at least in part, because those who dont have good social networks may not be able to get assistance if they become ill.
Is there a health-wealth connection? Yes, there is, according to Dr. Smith. An analysis of Medicare beneficiaries performed by Dartmouth College found the lowest death rates are seen in the wealthiest places.
Current studies suggest getting rich does not make you healthier, but getting sick does make you poorer. Low income doesnt lead to poor health as much as poor health leads to low income, according to the latest research. This is largely due to the fact that, if you develop cancer, heart disease, diabetes or another serious disease, your medical expenses rise while your ability to work declines. For countries like England and Sweden that have universal health insurance, there is no difference in longevity between the rich and the poor.
One of the key things you can do to extend not only the quantity of your years, but also the quality, is to make a few simple changes to your lifestyle. One of the most important changes is regulating your insulin through diet and exercise. Optimizing your insulin and leptin levels have been found to be key factors in slowing down the aging process.
Consuming sugar and grains will increase your insulin level, which is the equivalent of slamming your foot on your aging accelerator. Theres simply no more potent way to accelerate aging than sticking to a diet full of sugar and grains. When consumed in excess, sugar, and fructose in particular, act as a toxin and drive multiple disease processes in your body, not the least of which is insulin resistance, a major cause of accelerated aging.
Furthermore, research by Professor Cynthia Kenyon shows that carbohydrates directly affect two key genes in your body that govern longevity and youthfulness. Previous research has shown that you can extend your lifespan by reducing your caloric intake, and Ive written about this technique in the past. The problem is that most people do not understand how to properly cut calories, because in order to remain healthy, you have to cut out calories from a specific source namely, carbohydrates.
Protein intake should be about one gram per kilogram of lean body mass or less than half a gram per pound of lean body mass. Most people are currently consuming 2-3 times this much. The key to success with this anti-aging strategy is not necessarily to reduce your calories but replace the missing carbs and protein with healthy fats such as butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, the fat from pastured animals, or nuts.
Here are the rest of my top anti-aging recommendations:
For the best nutrition and health benefits, you will want to eat a good portion of your food raw. Personally, I aim to eat about 75 percent of my food raw, including raw eggs.
Topping the list of foods to avoid is fructose.
Eat plenty of natural, unprocessed salt with your food, as higher salt intake has been tied to longevity. I recommend Himalayan crystal salt. Also include liberal amounts of naturally fermented foods in your daily diet, which are important for optimal immune function.
High-intensity interval training boosts human growth hormone (HGH) production, which is essential for optimal health, strength and vigor. Ive discussed the importance of Peak Fitness for your health on numerous occasions.
During times when no UVBs are able to penetrate, and hence will not lead to vitamin D production, you can use a safe tanning bed or an oral vitamin D3 supplement. There is preliminary evidence suggesting that oral vitamin D may not provide the identical benefits, but its still better than none at all.
Making sure your doctor is properly accredited is also important when you seek medical care. According to a book about degree mills, there are well over 5,000 doctors operating with fake medical degrees in the U.S., and people have died as a result. Additionally, more than half of all PhD degrees in the U.S.are reportedly fakes.
There is no quick fix, when it comes to longevity. There is no magic pill and no fountain of youth, which makes finding a physician who is well versed in the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle all the more important. Although some people seem to be blessed with longevity in spiteof their lifestyle choices, this is the exception and not the rule. For most of us, becoming healthy Centenarians will require some effort and attention to the factors outlined above.
See original here: Surprising Secrets to Longevity
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Announcing Our Newest Location in Fairfax, Virginia Call Us for Details!
The Princeton Longevity Comprehensive Exam takes your health beyond the Annual Physical.
With the latest technology, combined with caring experts who take the time to fully evaluate your health, the Princeton Longevity Center Comprehensive Exam can detect early cancers, heart disease, aneurysms and the silent killers that are often missed in a typical physical exam or routine blood tests.
Youll get the latest diagnostic, screening and imaging technologies to assess the state of your health and the detailed information you need to optimize the quality of your future years.
The scope of your examination and the amount of useful information you come away with is dramatically more revealing than a standard physical exam or consultation. The effect on your future can be dramatic.
Our proactive approach to illness and premature aging will help you identify your risk of future disease and create a personalized program to improve your health and maintain an active lifestyle. Youll learn how simple, easy changes in nutrition, fitness, lifestyle and natural supplements can effectively prevent most Cancers and Heart Disease.
Youll receive this total, in-depth evaluation in one day and one place. Well make you comfortable and look after you every step of the way.
Best of all, youll get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are doing all you can to take care of your health- for yourself and for the people who care about you.
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Learn More About the Exam with Frequently Asked Questions About The Comprehensive Exam
Comprehensive Exam Components
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The Road Map
Well explain the results of your evaluations, provide you with a clear understanding of your health issues and create a detailed, customized treatment plan for you. Youll walk out with a practical road map you can follow to maintain and enhance your health and fitness on a daily basis.
At the Princeton Longevity Center, we are your partners in long-term health care. When you walk out of our office, our involvement in your well-being does not end, and we will continue to monitor your progress through a choice of Follow-Up Options. This is not just an exam, its the start of your plan for staying well for the years to come.
The Rewards
A Comprehensive Exam lets you take control of your health. If you are worried about your risk of heart disease, cancer or other health problems, a Princeton Longevity Center Comprehensive Exam can give you the Peace of Mind that comes from knowing that all is well.
Youll know whether or not you are really at risk for heart attack, cancer, diabetes, premature aging or other significant health issues. And, you will find out what you can do about those risks. Youll learn how to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other diseases from affecting your future.
Youll have the opportunity to anticipate and prevent illness and premature aging. Youll learn the simple, easy steps that you can take to prevent cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, lung disease, and more. We will show you how you can improve your nutrition and fitness so that your future years are healthier and more active.
The Princeton Longevity Center is focused on helping you with healthy living at the forefront of new medical knowledge and diagnostic technologies. So, you can stop worrying and know that you are doing all you can to optimize your health for today and the years to come.
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Originally posted here: Comprehensive Health Exam :: Princeton Longevity Center
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Sensation 64-Slice CT High Definition Coronary Artery Scans
I dont want to know if something is wrong. Wont the scan make me too nervous?
What type of scaner is used?
What happens during the scan?
What about the radiation exposure?
How long does a scan take?
Do I need to fast?
Do I need a referral from my physician?
Is the scan covered by my insurance?
How accurate is a Heart Scan?
My cholesterol level is normal. Should I still have a Heart Scan?
What if I already know I have heart disease?
I was told the scan cant detect soft plaque. Does that matter?
I already passed a stress test. Should I still have a scan?
How does the scan detect coronary artery disease?
What about blood tests like C-Reactive Protein and Homocysteine?
Is this the same scan that I saw on Oprah or in the newspapers?
What do I do with my test results?
What makes the Princeton Longevity Centers scans different from all the other scanning centers that I have seen or heard advertised?
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I dont want to know if something is wrong. Wont the scan make me too nervous?
Heart disease is extremely treatable, especially if found early. If your scan shows that you are at risk for developing coronary artery disease, we can show you how simple changes or treatments can dramatically alter your risk and lessen the chances that you will have a heart attack. Avoiding a scan will not stop the disease. Knowing what simple steps you can take will make a big difference in the quality of the rest of your life.
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What type of scanner is used?
Our scans are done with a Siemens Definition AS 64 Slice CT Scanner. This state of the art scanner uses very low radiation doses and produces exceptional detail, as small as 1/50th of an inch. The scans are also extremely fast, usually less than 10 seconds, so there is no need for prolonged breath-holds. The scanner is completely non-claustrophic.
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What happens during the scan? Is it uncomfortable?
64 Slice CT scans are quick, painless and safe. You lie on a table and hold your breath for a few seconds. There are no needles or dyes; it is not claustrophobic and you usually dont even have to remove your clothes.
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What about the radiation exposure?
There has been a lot of attention in the media surrounding the issue of radiation exposure. We keep our doses as low as possible. Our Coronary Calcium Heart Scans generally involve a dose of about 1 mSv, an amount much lower than is typically cited in the media. According to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission the risk of 1 mSv is about 1 in 25,000 or, put another way, it raises your cancer risk from 20.000% to just 20.004%. On the other hand, your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease that goes undetected and untreated is 36%. We believe that the potential benefit of early detection of cardiovascular or other diseases more than offsets the extremely small potential risk of this level of radiation exposure.
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Longevity Medicine
