What Tests Can I Expect at an Anti-Aging Appointment? 

Aging well often involves incorporating certain beneficial, anti-aging behaviors into your lifestyle. Through advanced tests and other measures, our team monitors your ongoing health to help prevent chronic illness.

Bretton Powell, MD, and David Zweiback, DO, provide anti-aging services at our concierge-style practice, Monarch Concierge MD – Hilton Head, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. 

Learn more about the ins and outs of anti-aging exams here.

Biological versus chronological age

Your number of birthdays represents your chronological age. Your biological age, on the other hand, varies depending on your genetics, cellular markers, cognitive health, and current conditions, such as prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, cancer, kidney problems, and beyond.

During a typical anti-aging appointment, we review certain biomarkers that determine your biological age, including:

• Cardiovascular health
• Muscle and bone loss
• Hormonal imbalances
• Autoimmunity

Our team may also suggest lifestyle adjustments, from a healthier diet and meditation to regular exercise and sleep. We also review your exposure to stress and environmental toxins. Increasing healthy habits while reducing unhealthy ones helps slow your aging on a cellular level.

Medical tests and treatments

Our team may recommend blood and imaging tests to better understand your current level of health, such as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An ECG records your heart’s contractions to show whether it beats steadily. Irregular beating may signal a heart-related condition.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create moving images of your heart. It displays blood flow, structure, and pumping ability.

Stress test

By making your heart pump faster than normal, we assess your heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.

Bone scan

A bone density scan employs low-dose X-rays to uncover your bone’s calcium and mineral levels to predict osteoporosis. The more minerals present, the stronger your bones.

CT scan or cardiac MRI

CT scans of your coronary arteries reveal blockages, which may signal coronary artery disease. An MRI is another option for assessing your heart muscle, and it doesn’t use radiation.

Hormone imbalance blood test

Hormone testing offers a peek into your overall hormonal health, enabling you and our team to make informed decisions. Both males and females need to understand their hormone levels, which encompass:

• Sex hormones, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that helps regulate your metabolism
• Cortisol levels that influence stress, immune function, sleep-wake cycle, and more

Blood tests for vitamin and mineral deficiencies

These tiny building blocks help your body function. Low levels of vitamin B-12, for instance, may lead to anemia. A good balance of micronutrients remains a key factor in maintaining good overall health.

Cholesterol and triglyceride blood tests

Aging is often associated with high cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) that may increase your risk of heart, neurological, and liver disease. It’s important to modify them through lifestyle changes and/or medication, sooner rather than later.

These and other disease-specific tests enable us to propose treatments, supplements, and medication, as needed. 

Take control of your health

Anti‑aging approaches combine healthier lifestyle habits with medical interventions to help prevent disease and promote long‑term vitality.

If you’re ready to learn more about your state of health, schedule an anti-aging exam with our compassionate team at Monarch Concierge MD - Hilton Head. 

We offer same-day telemedicine appointments as well as in-office visits. Call us at 843-681-5305 or request an appointment online.