11 Longevity Tests Everyone Should Know

Disclaimer: Not Medical Advice. Opinions are my own.

In partnership with ​Function Health


How healthy are you?

I think this is a question everyone wants to know the answer to.

Quite frankly, everyone needs to know the answer.

Determining your overall health can be challenging and varies at different stages of life.

However, understanding where you are today without judgment will shed light on where your opportunities lie to stack the deck in your favor.

In today's newsletter, we are going to cover 11 tests and tools that can help you answer the question: "How healthy am I?"

I have curated this list to begin with the most accessible and affordable options, and then progress to more targeted and specific tests.

We won't discuss action items to improve your results in this newsletter; only the types of tests to consider.

*Disclaimer: These tests should be performed in consultation with your qualified healthcare professional and are not intended to replace or substitute for your doctor.

1. General Self-Assessment
   
   Intellectual honesty. Being able to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself the question, "How healthy am I? " while accepting reality for what it is - for better or worse. Identifying what is working well for you and where you can make the most impact. The first step towards change is understanding your current position.
   
   
   

2. Height-to-Waist Ratio
   
   Something we are all aware of is our weight. The truth is that visceral fat (the fat around our organs) is the type of fat we should be most concerned about. To estimate your visceral fat, you can measure your height-to-waist ratio. ​Here is an easy-to-use calculator. ​ The goal is to be under .50 for your height-to-waist ratio.
   
   
   

3. Resting Heart Rate
   
   An at-home test to get a baseline of your heart's efficiency is taking your resting heart rate. Generally speaking: - The higher your resting heart rate, the more your heart has to work to effectively deliver blood and nutrients to your body. - The lower your resting heart rate, the less your heart has to work to effectively deliver blood and nutrients to your body.
   
   
   

4. Sleep Journal
   
   Your mental and physical gains occur during recovery, not training. Sleep is a longevity lever we can't ignore. Keeping a sleep journal of when you go to bed, when you wake up, and how you feel will help paint a picture of your sleep hygiene.
   
   This simple method will encourage you to consciously think about your sleep routine.
   
   
   

5. Mental Health Assessment
   
   Mental health is commonly overlooked. Exercise programs, saunas, nutrition, and other wellness activities steal most of the attention. Mental health can be swept under the rug.
   
   Nothing in the body happens in a vacuum. Our physical health has a significant impact on our mental health, and vice versa.
   
   Therapy, journaling, counseling, meditation, and prayer can all be modalities to help improve mental health.
   
   There are unlimited amounts of mental health assessments online, but if you are concerned about your mental health, seek professional guidance.
   
   
   

6. Blood Pressure Measurement
   
   50% of adults in the US have high blood pressure or are at risk — often without knowing it.
   
   Most people rely on checking their blood pressure once a year during their annual physical, which could be insufficient data. Measuring your blood pressure over a two-week period and calculating the average can provide a more accurate picture.
   
   Hypertension is the most modifiable risk factor for heart disease, and it starts with knowing your numbers. You can invest in your own blood pressure cuff or visit your local pharmacy.
   
   
   

7. Wearable Devices
   
   The Apple Watch, Whoop, Garmin, Aura ring offer day-to-day feedback.
   
   Wearable devices can monitor all these metrics—resting heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery, sleep cycles, and activity level—automatically.
   
   These tools come with a cost, but they can significantly enhance your understanding of daily life data. It can be tempting to obsess over the data; however, it's more important to observe trends than to focus solely on minute-to-minute information.
   
   
   

8. Advanced Blood Panel
   
   Knowing your lab values helps identify problems before symptoms often occur.
   
   Many of us are familiar with the standard lab panel we get from our primary care physician, which is a great place to start.
   
   I used ​Function​ to gain a deeper understanding of my health baseline, which you won't find on a standard panel such as Apob, Lp(a), and hs-CRP.
   
   
   

9. DEXA Scan
   
   I mentioned height-to-waist ratio to estimate visceral fat.
   
   DEXA scan is the gold standard for assessing body composition.
   
   It provides detailed measurements of:
   
   • Body fat percentage
   • Visceral fat (fat around organs)
   • Lean muscle mass
   • Bone mineral density
   
   This test offers a straightforward and objective assessment of your body composition, allowing you to track changes over time, particularly during fitness or weight loss efforts.
   
   
   

10. Genetic Testing
    
    We can't run from our genes.
    
    Genetic testing provides insights into how your unique DNA may influence health risks, nutrient requirements, medication responses, and physical characteristics.
    
    For example, APOE, BRCA1, and BRCA2 are specific genes that determine your risk for Alzheimer's and breast cancer.
    
    Although these are not a death sentence, knowing your genetic makeup can alter your preventive strategies.
    
    
    

11. VO2 Max
    
    It’s one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular fitness and overall longevity.
    
    VO₂ max is a measure of your maximum oxygen uptake during exercise — essentially, how efficiently your body uses oxygen. You can estimate it using some wearables or formally test it in a lab or sports clinic.
    
    Improving VO₂ max through interval training, aerobic exercise, or endurance activities can lead to enhanced stamina, improved heart health, and increased resilience.
    
    

These 11 tests will help you confidently answer the question, "How healthy am I?" The ultimate goal is to use these tests to establish a baseline of positives and identify areas for improvement.

It's unrealistic to complete these tests all at once. The frequency and cadence of these tests will vary from person to person, but I encourage you to consider all of them. Know your data to make improvements. That which is not measured can't be improved upon.

If You Don't Test, You Don't Know

True health ownership starts with knowledge.

Understanding which biomarkers are in range or, more importantly, out of range will help you personalize and create your own instruction manual.

​Function Health​ is an all-in-one health platform that starts with 100+ lab tests, including your heart, hormones, liver, kidneys, thyroid, autoimmunity, cancer signals, toxins, and overall nutrients.

Function provides five times more bloodwork testing than standard primary care labs, which would cost you thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Function makes scheduling at 2,000 locations across the USA convenient and straightforward, with lab visits averaging only 15 minutes.

Once your results are in, you will receive a comprehensive summary written by Function's Clinical Team. Clinicians call you promptly if any urgent results arise.

After seeing your biomarkers and Function's insightful recommendations, you will have the confidence to take action and retest in the future to track your progress.

Join hundreds of thousands, including me, who use Function to take control of their health. ​Click here to get a $100 credit when you sign up for Function.
​

Only the best,

Jeremy London, MD

P.S. Don't forget to follow my podcast for free on ​Spotify​ or ​Apple Podcasts