The 5 Most Important Health Tests to Get
Practicing prevention strategies is far more effective than screening for a disease. But here are your top 5 screening tests you should get done.
The goal is to prevent disease long before we need to screen for them. If you’re actively engaged in preventing a disease, screening is of lesser importance. That’s a good thing.
UPDATED: September 16th, 2025
Welcome to the Healthy Aging Newsletter, a free publication translating trustworthy medical research into simple habits to age well, free of chronic disease. I’m Dr. Ashori, a family medicine doctor turned health coach.
Patient: Doctor, I’d like to get my cholesterol checked.
Doctor: What made you want to get it checked today?
Patient: I’m trying to prevent heart disease.
Doctor: Are you planning to make any changes based on the results?
Patient: If my numbers are high, I’ll start eating better and exercising more.
Conversations like this are common in my practice. Many of us wait for a warning sign, like a high cholesterol number, before making changes. But health only works when prevention starts early and consistently.
5 Important Screening Tests to Do
I won’t leave you hanging with the screening tests. After all, we’ve grown accustomed to the importance of annual physical exams.
1) Blood Pressure - The Silent Biomarker
Depending on your overall risk, there is an ideal number to aim for. And there are lots of ways you can get it down naturally.
2) CRP - Inflammation
CRP looks for inflammation that may cause cancer or endocrine problems in the future. It may be listed as hs-CRP and there are other inflammation markers you can get.
You don’t have to get it perfect, but if it’s high the goal is to slowly trend it downward with lifestyle changes.
3) Fasting Insulin - Metabolic Health
Fasting insulin + glucose are the earliest sign of metabolic issues like diabetes or prediabetes.
There are other markers like A1C or fructosamine or 2-hour post-prandial glucose but they this is what I prefer to calculate a HOMA-IR score.
4) ApoB - Cholesterol Master Test
Apo B and Lp(a) blood test are the best predictors of heart disease. There are other tests like non-HDL cholesterol and LDL-C, but I prefer this because of its accuracy.
5) Homocysteine - Vessel Health
Homocysteine levels, when elevated, may indicate damage to the lining of certain vessels. This is lower on my list because its not as important as other ones.
If you prefer to avoid blood tests, start with your blood pressure, resting heart rate, and waist-to-height ratio.
Don’t aim for perfect, every small change adds up. One small step today leads to big health wins tomorrow.
Healthy Aging = Preventing Disease
Most of us have the right intention when we go in for our annual physical. The problem with our current physical exams and tests is that they are trying to catch a falling vase.
Real health comes from prevention actions you take, not blood tests your doctor orders. The small steps you take today set the foundation for the pyramid of health you’ll enjoy in the future.
If you want to take that journey together, book a 1:1 session for personalized coaching.
What’s Your ‘Game Changer’ Action?
There is nothing wrong with a blood test or screening for high blood pressure. But that puts the emphasis on what must happen outside of you.
What can you do today that will significantly impact your overall health and help you age healthy? How can you prevent hypertension, high cholesterol, deconditioning, dementia?
4 Actionable Steps That Have Better Results Than A Blood Test:
Pick one activity … walking to the office, doing house chores, or some exercises with exercise bands. Do them daily, consistently.
Make your meals one degree healthier. A little more beans, grains, and fruits.
Focus your energy on your breathing, relax your muscles, and relinquish some control.
Begin your sleep routine a few minutes earlier.