The False Sense of Security from Laboratory Results
Every year, a lot of people undergo a “ritual”. Medical Check up. Starting from taking blood, waiting for results, the doctor says cholesterol and blood sugar are normal, going home relieved. One box ticked, one year of peace. However, on the same day we are declared fine from the lab results, many are still panting even though just climbing stairs, having back pain when carrying grandchildren, or having a pounding heart when you run a little.
“Normal lab results do not mean your body is healthy. It only means the fluid in your blood has not crossed the threshold, at least today.”
This is the biggest blind spot in today’s healthcare system. We diligently measure what is in the blood, but do not test the functionality of the organ that pumps the blood. And unfortunately, that is exactly what is important. The function of our heart must also be measured for its capability.
VO2 Max: The Forgotten Vital Indicator
In Longevity Medicine, the absence of disease does not mean healthy. The strongest predictor for your quality of life later is not just blood sugar, or cholesterol, but another biomarker that rarely gets onto the radar. That biomarker is VO2 Max, a measure of cardiorespiratory capacity. VO2 Max is a parameter that measures the maximum volume of oxygen that can be absorbed, circulated, and used by the body during intense activity. Oxygen is the main fuel for mitochondria, like energy factories in every cell. The higher your VO2 Max, the more efficiently the entire body system works, especially in the heart, brain, muscles, and kidneys.
Simply put, a routine blood test is like checking the oil whether it is still clean or not, while VO2 Max measures the power of the engine. Two cars can have the same brand of oil, but their power is not necessarily the same right? That is the most determining thing, and the same thing happens in our own bodies. What is important to understand: VO2 Max is not just a measure of athlete fitness. VO2 Max is a direct reflection of how well each of your vital organs gets an adequate oxygen supply, currently and also in the future.
More Deadly Than Smoking and Science Has Proven It
- 750 Thousand Patient Study: Low VO2 Max is More Dangerous Than Smoking A large study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (Kokkinos et al., 2022) analyzed health and fitness data from more than 750 thousand patients over years. The results greatly shocked the medical world: very low cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2 Max) is proven to have a risk of death from all causes (all-cause mortality) that is much higher and more deadly than the combination of diabetes, hypertension, or even chronic smoking habits.
- American Heart Association Proposes VO2 Max as a New Vital Sign This clinical finding is so strong that the American Heart Association released an official statement in the research by Ozemek et al. (2023) urging all medical personnel worldwide to start measuring and recording VO2 Max at every patient visit, like measuring other vital signs such as body temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. This is not just a recommendation, but a legitimate acknowledgment that VO2 Max is indeed a very important indicator, and unfortunately is often missed.
- Measurable Brain Protection A study by Zhu, Y., et al. (2024) has confirmed that middle-aged people who maintain their cardiorespiratory fitness have larger brain volumes and have a much lower risk of dementia in old age. It turns out VO2 Max does not only affect the heart.
“There is no drug that can increase VO2 Max. The only way is to move, and that is good news, not a burden.”
What Tests Should Be in Your Medical Check-Up?
Statins can lower cholesterol overnight. Medicine can control blood pressure in a matter of hours. But not a single drug can replace something, that can only be built by consistent physical activity, which is your heart and lung capacity. And the good news is, increasing VO2 Max capacity can start from anywhere and at any time. No need to run a marathon. No need for an expensive gym. What is needed is a routine habit that spurs your heart and lungs, a little more intense, such as the following activities:
- A 30-minute brisk walk is enough to start, the important thing is to be consistent, not just occasionally.
- HIIT two to three times a week is proven to be the most effective in increasing VO2 Max in a relatively short time.
- Climbing stairs, not the elevator, turns out to really have an impact. Every opportunity that makes the heart work harder is meaningful.
Tomorrow if you do a medical check-up again, ask one thing that is rarely on the standard form: how is my cardiorespiratory capacity? Because that number is the one that most honestly tells the condition of your body’s engine, much more honest than cholesterol or blood sugar on paper. Cardiorespiratory health is not just about stamina, because it is the most accurate predictor of your biological age. So that you can get the best info and a measurable training plan, Previ Longevity facilitates Metabolic Analysis using the latest technology to find out your metabolic function and make the right plan.
REFERENCES
- Kaminsky, L. A., Imboden, M. T. and Ozemek, C. (2023) ‘It’s Time to (Again) Recognize the Considerable Clinical and Public Health Significance of Cardiorespiratory Fitness’, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 81(12), pp. 1148-1150.
- Kokkinos, P., et al. (2022) ‘Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Mortality Risk Across the Spectra of Age, Race, and Sex’, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 80(6), pp. 598-609.
- Zhu, Y., et al. (2024) ‘Association of cardiorespiratory fitness with dementia risk across different levels of genetic predisposition: a large community-based longitudinal study’, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 59(3), p. 150.
