Most annual physicals check a handful of basic markers that often don't change until disease is already present. At HealthSpan Chicago we go significantly deeper — testing the biomarkers most strongly correlated with how long you live and how well you live. Here's exactly what we measure and why.
A standard annual physical typically checks basic cholesterol, blood sugar, and a complete blood count. These are useful markers — but they're late-stage indicators. By the time they're abnormal, disease has often been developing for years or even decades.
The question we ask at HealthSpan Chicago isn't "are you sick?" — it's "where are you headed?" That requires a fundamentally different set of tests. Tests that catch insulin resistance before it becomes diabetes. Tests that identify cardiovascular risk before it becomes a heart attack. Tests that reveal what your body is actually made of — not just what the scale says.
This is the difference between reactive medicine and preventive medicine. And it starts with better data.
Standard cholesterol panels measure total cholesterol and LDL — but research shows these are poor predictors of actual cardiovascular risk. We go deeper.
ApoB (Apolipoprotein B)
ApoB is the protein that surrounds every particle of LDL cholesterol in your bloodstream. Research consistently shows that the number of ApoB particles — not just the total amount of cholesterol — is the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. A standard cholesterol panel can look completely normal while ApoB is dangerously elevated. This is one of the most important tests we run.
Lp(a) — Lipoprotein Little a
Lp(a) is a genetically determined lipoprotein that significantly increases cardiovascular risk independent of standard cholesterol levels. Elevated Lp(a) is one of the most common inherited risk factors for heart disease and stroke — yet it is almost never tested in a standard physical. Because Lp(a) is largely determined by genetics and does not change significantly with lifestyle, we test it once as part of your baseline cardiovascular evaluation. If elevated, it directly shapes your prevention strategy.
hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)
A marker of systemic inflammation. Chronic low-grade inflammation is one of the most powerful drivers of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and accelerated aging. Most standard physicals don't include this test.
Homocysteine
An amino acid that, when elevated, significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. Highly treatable when caught early — and almost never tested in a standard physical.
Uric Acid
Elevated uric acid is associated with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and metabolic dysfunction — well beyond its known association with gout.
Lipid Panel
A comprehensive assessment of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides — the foundation of cardiovascular risk assessment, reviewed alongside ApoB and Lp(a) for the most complete picture of your cardiovascular health.
Metabolic dysfunction — including insulin resistance — is one of the most common and consequential health problems in modern medicine. It drives weight gain, fatigue, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and cancer risk. And it develops silently for years before a standard blood test flags anything abnormal.
Fasting Insulin
This is one of the earliest markers of insulin resistance we have. Standard physicals check blood sugar — but blood sugar stays normal for years while insulin is quietly rising. By the time blood sugar is elevated, metabolic dysfunction has often been present for a decade. Fasting insulin catches the problem early.
HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance)
A calculated index using fasting insulin and fasting glucose that gives us a precise picture of how resistant your cells have become to insulin. This is the most sensitive early warning system for metabolic disease we have.
HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c)
A three-month average of blood sugar levels. More meaningful than a single fasting glucose measurement and one of our core metabolic markers.
Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP) & Liver Function
A comprehensive snapshot of liver function, kidney function, electrolytes, and blood glucose — the foundation of any thorough metabolic assessment. The liver plays a central role in metabolic health — regulating blood sugar, processing fats, and managing inflammation. Our panel includes liver function markers that allow us to screen for early signs of metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease — and MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). These conditions are increasingly common, closely linked to insulin resistance and visceral fat, and frequently missed until significantly advanced. Early detection allows for meaningful lifestyle intervention before irreversible damage occurs.
Hormones regulate nearly every system in the body — energy, mood, metabolism, muscle mass, bone density, cognitive function, and sexual health. Yet most standard physicals include only a basic TSH thyroid test, if anything at all.
Full Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)
A TSH alone tells you very little. We measure the full thyroid panel — including the active hormones Free T3 and Free T4 — giving us a complete picture of how your thyroid is actually functioning. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common and under-diagnosed causes of fatigue, weight gain, and cognitive symptoms.
Comprehensive Hormone Panel (Testosterone, Estradiol, FSH, LH, SHBG)
For both men and women we measure the hormones that most directly impact energy, body composition, mood, bone health, and quality of life. Hormone imbalances are common, highly treatable, and almost never addressed in a standard annual physical.
Cystatin C
Standard kidney function tests measure creatinine — but creatinine is heavily influenced by muscle mass and can miss early kidney dysfunction in otherwise healthy people. Cystatin C is a more sensitive and accurate marker of kidney function, particularly for early detection in active individuals. We use Cystatin C alongside creatinine for a more accurate and complete picture.
DEXA Scan (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry)
A DEXA scan is the gold standard for body composition analysis. Unlike a standard scale, BMI measurement, or handheld body fat device, a DEXA scan tells us exactly what your body is made of — bone density, muscle mass by region, and visceral fat.
Visceral fat — the fat stored around your internal organs — is one of the strongest predictors of metabolic disease, cardiovascular risk, and inflammation. It is completely invisible without this kind of testing.
ALMI (Appendicular Lean Mass Index) — a measure of muscle mass relative to height — is one of our key longevity markers. Low muscle mass is associated with dramatically increased risk of falls, metabolic disease, and early mortality.
DEXA scanning is included in your membership and is currently conducted at a contracted partner facility while in-house equipment is being established.
VO2 Max
VO2 max measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise — and it is the single strongest predictor of all-cause mortality we have in medicine. More predictive than blood pressure. More predictive than cholesterol. More predictive than smoking status.
Research shows that individuals in the bottom 25% of VO2 max for their age have roughly five times the risk of early death compared to those in the top 25%. Moving from the bottom quartile to just average fitness reduces mortality risk by approximately 50%.
The extraordinary news is that VO2 max is one of the most trainable metrics we have — at any age. With the right approach, meaningful improvement is absolutely achievable. But you can't improve what you don't measure. VO2 max testing is part of every member's baseline evaluation.
VO2 max testing is included in your membership and is currently conducted at a contracted partner facility while in-house equipment is being established.
CBC with Differential (Complete Blood Count)
A comprehensive assessment of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets — the foundation of any thorough health evaluation. Flags anemia, infection, immune dysfunction, and more.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most prevalent and under-recognized health issues in northern climates. Low levels are associated with immune dysfunction, bone loss, cardiovascular disease, mood disorders, and increased all-cause mortality. Almost universally under-tested and under-treated.
Vitamin B12
Critical for neurological function, energy production, and red blood cell formation. Deficiency is common — particularly in older adults and those on certain medications — and frequently missed.
Ferritin & Full Iron Panel
Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of fatigue, particularly in women, and ferritin is a far more sensitive early marker than standard hemoglobin. We include a full iron panel for a complete picture.
PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) — Men Only
An important screening marker for prostate health included in our men's annual panel.
The value of advanced testing isn't the test itself — it's what happens after. At HealthSpan Chicago every result is reviewed in the context of your full health picture, your personal goals, and your 30-year health roadmap. We don't hand you a report and send you on your way. We sit down together, explain what your numbers mean, and build a plan around them.
That's the difference between a longevity panel and longevity medicine.
The first step is a free 20-minute Discovery Call with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO. No obligation, no pressure — just a conversation about your health and what's possible. Membership is intentionally limited so we can deliver the level of care every patient deserves.
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