25 Oct Dexafit Testing : A must add to your annual health checkups

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]Annual physicals are a very common practice in the healthcare setting. These once a year checkups are intended to be akin to a car tuning. The physician spends time with the patients and makes sure everything is in working order. The annual checkup consists of a few components: A comprehensive examination , Blood work and Preventive Assessment.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]The comprehensive examination consists of getting all your vitals, discussing any symptoms you have had for the last year, listening to your heart, performing a head and neck exam, a lung exam, an abdominal exam , a neurological exam and testing your reflexes.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]Blood work usually consists of a complete blood count (CBC) and a complete metabolic panel (CMP). CBC will provide the blood counts for your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It will also provide your hemoglobin and hematocrit. The CMP will be a metabolic profile that will measure Glucose, Calcium, Electrolytes, Liver Enzymes, Protein, Albumin, Bilirubin , BUN and Creatinine. In addition to these blood tests, other tests are done if you have any symptoms that may need to be further investigated.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]Preventative Assessment includes any vaccination that may be needed. Additionally any preventative services that are warranted due to age or risk factors. The preventive services are usually determined by profile of the patient and criterias established by the US Preventative Task Force (USPTF)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]It can be surmised that the annual physical is intended to help establish a health snapshot of a patient so that if there are any issues of concern, it can be addressed. While at the same time serving as a reference point for any subsequent assessments .[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]A DXA scan is the gold standard method for assessing body composition. The scan provides information on your body fat percentage, lean mass, visceral fat, and whole body bone density and it takes only 7-11 minutes to complete. All that is required of you is to arrive in clothing with as little metal as possible. At completion of this test you will receive the results which will highlight your body fat%, your lean mass, bone mass, visceral fat , regional body composition and android to gynoid ratio.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]An RMR (resting metabolic rate) test is used to determine how many calories you burn in 24 hours while at rest. You wear a mask and then are hooked up to the metabolic cart while you are resting on a recliner. The test is approximately 10-15 minutes. In order to get the most accurate results, you MUST be fasted from food and drinks (especially those containing caffeine) for at least 5-6 hours. Once completed you will now have an accurate measurement of your metabolism, resting heart rate and respiratory quotient (preferred fuel source when at rest)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]A cardio VO2max test is used to determine one’s cardiorespiratory fitness. The test measures the maximum volume of oxygen that you can uptake and send to your contracting muscles (VO2max), maximum heart rate, heart rate workout zones, and your anaerobic threshold. The test is conducted on a treadmill or stationary bike. The technician raises the intensity of the test (through speed and/or incline) until you cannot go any further. The test takes approximately 10-20 minutes. All that is required of you is to arrive in workout clothes and running shoes. The results of this test will provide you with your max heart rate, your vo2 max and different heart rate training zones.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]Getting the metrics of Body Fat% , Metabolism and Vo2 max are valuable additions to annual health checkups. While health checkups are intended to identify that there are no problems. Dexafit metrics can be used to identify areas of growth and weakness in one’s wellness and serve as markers of health. Dexafit-like services should be added to every annual physical and be considered necessary to act as reference points in preventative health .[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][vc_column_text]Forward looking practitioners have already started to incorporate one or more of these metrics in their clinical assessments of patients. Consider getting thes tests along with your next annual physical.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~ Benjamin Franklin[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row]