8 Biomarkers That Need To Be Monitored To Avoid Serious Health Problems

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Certain indicators are quite reliable as they help predict your life expectancy and risk of disease. Some of them are measured during usual annual physical exams, but some may need to be checked more often if you’re at an increased risk of health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Below is the list of biomarkers that you need to monitor to reduce your risk of serious health problems and increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life:

Blood pressure

High blood pressure puts you at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. It can contribute to some health conditions and develop as a result of others. It’s estimated that about 1 in 3 Americans have high blood pressure. If yours is higher than 120/80mmHg, you need to start taking measures to control it.


Omega-6/Omega-3 fatty acids ratio

Your body can’t produce these fatty acids, which means you have to get enough of them from your diet. The optimal ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s is 2:1 to 4:1. To reach it, include more foods high in omega-3 in your diet, such as salmon and other cold-water fish, walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds, as well as limit vegetable oils.



Vitamin D

Vitamin D is vital for your bone health, immune system, and healthy muscles and nerves. Your body makes vitamin D after exposure to sunlight, but it’s also important to get enough of it from your diet. It’s found in egg yolks, liver, and saltwater fish; there are also fortified cereals and milk. You may also want to ask your doctor about a supplement.


C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein is produced by your liver. Increased levels of this protein are an indicator of inflammation. Chronic inflammation is linked to heart problems, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. The ways to reduce inflammation are what you have heard time and time again: exercise regularly, balance your diet, and lower your stress.


Cholesterol

A blood test called lipid panel is used to measure your levels of triglycerides, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and HDL (“good”) cholesterol. If your total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol are too high and HDL cholesterol is low, you have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Healthy diet, regular exercise, and giving up smoking can help bring the levels of cholesterol back to normal, but if that’s not enough, your doctor may prescribe medications such as statins.


Waist circumference

Extra weight puts you at a higher risk of many serious health problems, including diabetes and heart disease, especially if you carry most of the excess pounds around your waist. The optimal waist size is 35 inches and under for men, 32 inches and under for women.


Hormone levels

Levels of testosterone in men and estrogen in women decline naturally as they age. But if the levels of these hormones drop too low, it leads to muscle loss and bone frailty among other issues.

Levels of fasting insulin

Elevated blood sugar is an indicator used to determine whether someone will soon develop diabetes or already has it. But you should also pay attention to levels of fasting insulin. Increased fasting insulin may be an earlier sign of prediabetes than high blood sugar.