Nicolette: 0:01

Welcome to the Health Pulse, your go-to source for quick, actionable insights on health, wellness and diagnostics. Whether you're looking to optimize your well-being or stay informed about the latest in medical testing, we've got you covered. Join us as we break down key health topics in just minutes. Let's dive in.

Rachel: 0:28

Welcome listener, to another Deep Dive. Today we're plunging into this really fascinating frontier of blood biomarkers. It's well. It's rapidly transforming how we think about health, about prevention and our roadmap. Our guide for this is the 2025 Guide to Blood Biomarkers for Disease Prevention is the 2025 Guide to Blood Biomarkers for Disease Prevention. Our mission today it's really to decode the secret messages your own blood might be sending you know, finding crucial insights long before symptoms even show up. Think of it like getting a shortcut, a really powerful one, to being well-informed and proactive about your own well-being.

Mark: 1:02

Exactly, and what's so compelling here, I think, is how these things, these measurable substances in your blood, they actually reflect what's happening deep inside, you know, at a cellular level, systemically. It really is about shifting focus. Shifting focus From being reactive right yeah, waiting for problems Towards being truly proactive about your health.

Rachel: 1:20

Okay, well, let's unpack that a bit. Most of us, you know. We're familiar with the traditional blood tests, the usual suspects cholesterol, glucose, basic counts, standard panel, right. But this guide is saying look in 2025, maybe that's not always enough. So if I'm someone listening and I always get normal results back, should I still be thinking about these advanced markers? Is there like a hidden danger in just relying on the basics?

Mark: 1:44

That's a really crucial question. Traditionally, yeah, blood tests focused on basics, foundational stuff, for sure.

Rachel: 1:51

Yeah.

Mark: 1:51

But they can easily miss the early signs of dysfunction. It's often overlooked. Many people get told your labs are normal, even when their body might be sending subtle signals. You know little signs of imbalance.

Rachel: 2:02

Ah, okay. So the core idea here is that normal on the lab report it might just mean average.

Mark: 2:09

Pretty much Average for the population tested.

Rachel: 2:12

But what if average isn't good enough for your optimal health, for your peak performance? Can you maybe give an example of how that plays out, why normal might be misleading.

Mark: 2:20

Absolutely. Let's take fasting glucose A level of, say, 99 milligdl might be flagged as normal, but while it could still mean insulin resistance is already starting your body's working harder just to keep that glucose in the normal range.

Rachel: 2:32

Okay, so the number looks fine, but the effort behind it isn't.

Mark: 2:36

Exactly, or take TSH. Thyroid stimulating hormone. Normal levels might still hide symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, things linked to low cellular thyroid function. It really brings up that question, doesn't it? Are we just aiming for average or are we aiming for our personal best, our optimal state?

Rachel: 2:57

That is a crucial distinction. Wow, it sounds like without this deeper insight, we could be missing some really critical early warnings. So what kind of important markers does the guide say are often left out? You know, from the routine panels?

Mark: 3:09

Precisely, and the guide points this out clearly. A lot of key markers often just aren't included in standard insurance-based labs. We're talking about things like ApoB for heart disease risk fasting. Insulin for your metabolic status. Hscrp for low-grade inflammation.

Rachel: 3:24

These sound important.

Mark: 3:25

They really are. They're often like the check engine lights that flick on way before the engine actually starts sputtering, you know.

Rachel: 3:30

Yeah, yeah. And the guide has this key line you can't fix what you don't measure. So what kind of like hidden problems can these advanced biomarkers really help us uncover? Give us that early warning.

Mark: 3:42

Well, these tests can pick up on some incredibly important things early on Early signs of autoimmune activation, for instance, or hidden inflammation that might be impacting your energy, your recovery, even early stress on your kidneys or liver, or micronutrient deficiencies affecting, say, your mood, your thinking, your immunity. By tracking these subclinical changes you can act sooner. You might avoid unnecessary meds. You can really personalize your nutrition, your lifestyle, optimize performance, longevity. It's all about being proactive, not reactive.

Rachel: 4:13

Okay, the guide mentions a top 10 list for 2025 for prevention for peak health. Yeah, we probably can't cover all 10 in detail right now.

Mark: 4:21

No, probably not.

Rachel: 4:22

But let's maybe unpack a few of the really impactful ones, the ones offering that early detection, those actionable insights. First up, hscrp high sensitivity C-reactive protein. I hear it mentioned a lot. What makes it so foundational in this guy?

Mark: 4:35

It's more like this persistent, quiet inflammation, almost like a low hum in the body and that low hum, well, it quietly contributes to the biggest health challenges out there Heart disease, autoimmune issues, cognitive decline, even cancer. Ideally you want it less than 1.0 milligel and, yes, absolutely Elevated HSCRP can show that silent inflammation even if you feel fine. And, importantly, it often responds really well to lifestyle changes diet, stress management, exercise.

Rachel: 5:14

That sounds incredibly important. Then Foundational health. What about fasting insulin?

Mark: 5:18

Fasting insulin. That gives you a very early signal of insulin resistance, often way before your glucose levels even start to creep up.

Rachel: 5:25

Before glucose, yeah, before glucose.

Mark: 5:27

Yeah, and that's huge, because insulin resistance is a major driver behind so many chronic diseases. Yeah, type 2 diabetes, pcos that's polycystic ovary syndrome, fatty liver, obesity.

Rachel: 5:41

The ideal range we're looking for is generally around 2 to 6 IUML. So, if I'm getting this right, it's not just about the glucose number itself, but how hard your body, how much insulin it's pumping out just to keep that glucose look, normal, you've got it. That's a critical piece for preventive care OK that's a big aha moment right there, shifting gears a bit Cardiovascular health the guide really emphasizes APOB. Why is APOB better, or maybe more complete, than just looking at LDL cholesterol?

Mark: 6:05

Good question. Apob or apolipoprotein B. It tells you the actual number of those potentially harmful lipoprotein particles, the hypogenic ones. It's generally seen as a better predictor of risk than just LDL cholesterol concentration alone. Why?

Rachel: 6:18

is that.

Mark: 6:18

Because, well, you could have normal LDL cholesterol, but if your ApoB is high it means you have more of those particles, the ones that can actually get into the artery walls and start causing trouble. So an ideal range for low risk, usually less than 90 mL of GDL. It really changes how deeply we should be assessing heart risk.

Rachel: 6:35

And sticking with vascular health, the guide also mentions homocysteine. Sounds a bit technical, but how does that marker fit into the picture?

Mark: 6:42

Yeah, homocysteine. It might sound obscure, but it's actually a critical indicator for something called methylation efficiency. Methylation, Uh-huh. It's essentially how well your body processes certain B vitamins, vitamins that are vital for well countless processes. If your homocysteine is high, it's a red flag, Increased risk for stroke, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and often it just signals simple B vitamin deficiencies.

Rachel: 7:07

Things like B12 or folate.

Mark: 7:09

Exactly, which are often relatively easy to correct. So ideally you want that number below 9-0.

Rachel: 7:15

Okay, and the guide also touches on cystatin C for kidneys and even newer things like zonulin or LPS for gut health, gut permeability. Why are these important for the whole picture?

Mark: 7:25

Right. So cystatin C. It's more sensitive for picking up early kidney stress than the standard creatinine test, especially useful for older adults, maybe people on high-protein diets. It just allows for earlier intervention.

Mark: 7:38

Juner is better right Always, and then Zonulin or LPS. They give us clues about your gut lining integrity, increased permeability, what people often call leaky gut. That's a growing area of concern. It's linked to a whole cascade of issues autoimmune problems, allergies, chronic inflammation spreading through the body. Ideal ranges are still being sort of firmed up for everyone, but high levels definitely suggest looking deeper into gut health.

Rachel: 8:02

It definitely paints a much richer, more detailed health picture. It goes way beyond the standard checkup, doesn't it?

Mark: 8:08

It really does.

Rachel: 8:09

But are there situations maybe, or health concerns, where even these advanced markers might not tell the whole story?

Mark: 8:15

That's a really thoughtful point. Yes, absolutely. While these biomarkers give us incredible insights, powerful data points, they are still just pieces of the puzzle. Data points, they are still just pieces of the puzzle. A complete health picture always, always, needs to integrate your symptoms, your lifestyle, genetics, the whole clinical context.

Rachel: 8:33

So they're a tool, a great tool, but not the only tool.

Mark: 8:40

Exactly.

Rachel: 8:40

Think of them as a fantastic compass, but you still need the rest of the map. Got it Okay? This all sounds incredibly valuable for prevention, for optimizing health, but traditionally getting these advanced tests often involved a lot of hassle right Doctors' referrals, lab visits, waiting around.

Mark: 8:53

Oh yeah, the logistics could be a pain.

Rachel: 8:55

How has that changed? According to the guide for 2025, has convenience finally caught up with the science?

Mark: 9:06

things have really shifted and it's exciting. The guide points out that, yeah, in 2025, the whole lab experience is much different. Services are now making diagnostic testing way more accessible, often directly from your home.

Rachel: 9:13

From home. How does that work?

Mark: 9:15

Well, you can order your own labs in many cases, or use an order from your provider, and then a mobile phlebotomist, someone trained to draw blood, comes right to your home or even your office. Yeah, it's about meeting you where you are, basically.

Rachel: 9:27

So no more waiting rooms, no trek to the lab, potential exposure to illness. Fitting it into your schedule? That sounds like a monumental shift, a game changer for busy people.

Mark: 9:37

It really is Right. Exactly, it means you can much more easily access and track these advanced markers. We've been talking about fasting insulin, apob, hscrp, vitamin D. You can even bundle routine labs with these more functional markers, maybe specialty panels too, all without that traditional red tape. It truly empowers you to personalize your health plan and, you know, take charge.

Rachel: 9:59

This whole deep dive into blood biomarkers. It's been incredibly illuminating. Really feels like we're stepping into a new era Proactive, personalized health.

Mark: 10:09

And if we put it in that broader context, yeah, disease prevention in 2025 is proactive, it's personal, it's data-driven.

Rachel: 10:15

Blood biomarkers offer you this powerful window really into your body's internal balance, revealing risks, dysfunctions, that metabolic stress you can optimize your energy, your mood, hormone balance, personalize your nutrition, your lifestyle and ultimately prevent chronic disease, or at least catch it super early, when it's most reversible.

Mark: 10:50

Exactly, and the guide really hammers this home. The basic treatment is still early detection always, and that starts with knowing your numbers. You don't have to wait for your doctor to suggest it necessarily, and you definitely don't need to rearrange your whole life just to get tested anymore. The tools are really available now much more accessible.

Rachel: 11:06

So here's a final thought for you to consider If traditional lab work mostly tells you where you are right now, how might regularly tracking these advanced biomarkers empower you to actively write your future health story, to steer it towards optimal well-being, instead of just, you know, reacting when illness finally shows up? Something to think about.

Nicolette: 11:27

Thanks for tuning into the Health Pulse. If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. For more health insights and diagnostics, visit us online at wwwquicklabmobilecom. Stay informed, stay healthy and we'll catch you in the next episode.