The following is a description of the available Tests and Services that we offer:
TESTS AND PROCEDURES
Extensive Medical Interview
One-on-one consultation with a board-certified physician allows ample time to discuss your concerns. The physician reviews your personal medical history as well as your family history. There is detailed screening for symptoms relating to all of your body’s systems, including neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and endocrine.
Comprehensive Physical Examination
The physician completes a detailed checklist while conducting your physical examination. Since all of your data is entered into your personal database, this checklist assures that all necessary components are meticulously collected.
Comprehensive Gynecologic Evaluation - for Women
The physician takes a comprehensive gynecologic and obstetric history. The physical examination includes ---at the patient’s option --- breast and pelvic examination as well as a ThinPrep™ pap smear. The ThinPrep™ Pap test is a very sensitive test of cervical epithelial cells and is highly accurate in detecting abnormalities. Women have the option of a consultation with Dr. Jennifer Berman to discuss optimizing sexual health.
Men’s Issues
In addition to the imaging of the prostate and blood tests for testosterone and other relevant hormones, the physician provides the opportunity to discuss sexual issues, and the options for optimizing sexual health.
EKG (electrocardiogram)
This test is a 12-lead electrocardiogram that measures your heart rate, rhythm, function, and is used as a limited screening tool for cardiovascular disease.
Pulmonary Function Test
This test measures baseline function of your lungs, as well as screening for asthma, emphysema, or any obstructive or restrictive lung disease. It includes FEV-1 and FVC (Forced Expiratory Volume and Forced Vital Capacity).
Metabolic Analysis
This consists of resting energy expenditure and V02 max.
Individuals have enormous differences in these measures that are determined in part by their genes, thyroid function and fitness level.
Resting Energy Expenditure
This test measures how many calories you burn while resting quietly in a fasting state. Whether you want to build muscle or lose weight, or prevent muscle atrophy with aging, this value helps understand your "metabolism."
V02 Max / Anaerobic Threshold
This test measures how many calories per minute you can burn while running on a treadmill. (Vo2 max= maximum amount of oxygen processed in a minute) Your anaerobic threshold is also identified. Customized heart rate zones are determined to keep you exercising at a level that is providing beneficial results.
Musculoskeletal Evaluation & Fitness Assessment
Your assessment includes measures of body composition, joint range of motion as well as flexibility and strength of the adjoining soft tissue structures. A postural assessment will be performed with recommendations to decrease the effects of degeneration on joints and muscles. Gait analysis is used to determine structural abnormalities and muscle asymmetry.
With correction and retraining you will be able to help decrease the stress on your body and slow the degenerative process. Specialized software is used to gather this data, which is stored to your WellMax Health Portfolio. We provide you with an extensive personalized report that includes your measurements, our recommendations and a program designed with your personal goals, interests and schedule in mind.
Nutritional Evaluation
You are given forms to document everything you eat for 2 days. Practical and individual recommendations are made to increase the ‘nutrient density’ of your diet and regulate optimal caloric intake. The evaluation includes two reference books: What Color Is Your Diet by David Heber M.D. and Dr. Shapiro’s Picture Perfect Weight Loss 30 Day Plan. A wallet reference guide for fast foods, restaurants and snacks is also included.
Vitamin profile
If you are taking vitamins and supplements currently, we take the ingredients of your entire regimen and enter it into the WellMax Master Vitamin Spreadsheet to analyze the total amount of each ingredient, and to help identify important nutrients or vitamins that may be missing… especially after your individual medical issues have been identified.
LABORATORY TESTS
CBC and Chem 20
A complete blood count (CBC), twenty chemistry measures (Chemistry 20 panel), which includes measures of liver and kidney function, fasting glucose (blood sugar), and electrolytes.
Complete Hormone Panel
Serum DHEA-S, estrogen (estradiol extraction), testosterone ("free," total, and "bioavailable"), growth hormone (via IGF-1) and cortisol for both men and women. For men, there is also a measure of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and LH (luteinizing hormone from the pituitary). For women, there are additionally measures of progesterone and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary).
Cardiovascular Risk Panel
Medical Scientists have discovered many modifiable risk markers for heart disease. Cholesterol is just the tip of the iceberg. Our cardiac panel includes the usual lipid panel of cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. In addition, the type of HDL and LDL are checked, since it makes a big difference in your individual rate of arteriosclerosis. Lipoprotein (a), highly sensitive C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and fasting insulin are measured. Fibrinogen and others can be added for high-risk individuals.
Under "research" we can also offer unique markers like MPO (myeloperoxidase), thought to be far more predictive of heart risk than the other tests. Together these many tests provide your individual and unique pattern of cardiac risk markers. These can be modified!
Ferritin
Ferritin serves as a general screen for both iron deficiency and iron overload. Problems with iron shortage and iron storage in the body are much more common than previously recognized. If this test is abnormal, a panel of iron measures can be ordered to clarify exactly what the problem is.
Thyroid Screening – T4 Free & TSH
These two tests measure the function of the thyroid gland and its ongoing "dialogue" with the pituitary gland. Thyroid hormones control the body’s metabolic rate. We can also, if needed, measure serum total and free T3, a different, more active form of thyroid hormone converted peripherally from T4.
Tumor Markers (CA125, CEA, PSA, NMP)
These markers screen for ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and bladder cancer, respectively. NMP is not generally available in other clinics.
Genetic Testing
All human diseases are caused by the interaction between genetic predisposition and modifiable environmental factors. With this knowledge you are given a ‘glimpse’ into your potential health future. Genetic testing empowers the physician to help the patient reduce the risk of disease without waiting for symptoms to appear by using earlier, more precise and customized interventions.
New genes are being made available for testing every few weeks. Currently, a baseline genetic analysis includes a cardiovascular risk panel (Cardio profile) and a detoxification gene panel (Detox Profile). The Cardio profile checks eight different genes to uncover potential genetic susceptibility to elevated cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, obesity, high blood pressure, heart attacks (coronary artery disease), blood clots (thromboses), and stroke. The Detox Profile checks over 20 genes to uncover genetic susceptibility to adverse drug reactions, numerous cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, mood disorders, fatigue syndromes, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity and oxidative stress.
HIV Antibody
This test screens for the human immunodeficiency (AIDS) virus.
Oxidative Stress
These optional measures of one’s oxidative stress are currently considered "research." They can provide enormous insight into your body’s physiology. We also measure oxidized and reduced glutathione, and their ratio. We measure TBARS, and oxidized LDL, paraoxinase (PON), and F2 isoprostanes. These tests can generate enormously valuable information about your body’s defenses against aging and degenerative diseases. Specific therapies (usually nutrients) are available to modify these values.
Comprehensive Laboratory Summary
Your results will be entered into a spreadsheet so that you can easily see all of your tests summarized, and see how they change over time, since columns are in place for dates. All the labs are analyzed by the physician and reviewed with you in a comprehensive, individualized letter, and by telephone.
WellScan
This 45-minute test uses a computer, a microprocessor, and several instruments to assess 12 "biomarkers of aging". These markers include visual accommodation, auditory and visual reflexes, high frequency hearing, pulmonary function, vibro-tactile sense, memory and other functions. Regression analysis is used to compute your "biologic age". If significant problems are discovered in one or more areas, further testing may be done.
Personal Health Notebook
A personalized, comprehensive notebook is prepared for you with details of all of your studies, copies of reports, and our recommendations. You may have this information summarized onto a personalized CD, and soon we will offer an individual secure website accessible only to you and those doctors for whom you delegate access.
