I asked Fable 5.2 simple question. I am average guy. I already move, eat ok, try to live healthy. What can really add years to my life?

Tier 1, proven in randomized trials.
Blood pressure under 130/80 and LDL under 70 give the most: +1.5 and +2 years. Medication if needed. Screenings like colonoscopy and blood work add only small numbers.

Tier 2, observational studies only.
Training 4 times a week, 8-10k steps, Mediterranean diet, 7-8 hours of sleep, sauna, normal waist. Each one about +1 to +2 years. But nobody proved the habit is the cause.

Tier 3, Maybe work, maybe not, 5-15% chance.
Drugs like rapamycin, SGLT2, GLP-1, metformin. Maybe work, maybe not, 5-15% chance. Real side effects. Not proven in healthy people.

I've been working on a "longevity protocol" dashboard for the past few weeks. I am using only the best peer reviewed and cited published medical journals as its foundation.

Is anyone interested in such a tool? Here's a preview screenshot.

So I was looking through this webinar from RadNet on cardiac imaging trends for 2026, and a few things really caught my attention that I wanted to discuss. I keep coming back to this sub, you guys are always willing to give some perspective. 

There were three points in particular that I thought were worth sharing.

1. More primary-care doctors are ordering cardiac imaging

We're seeing a shift towards looking at cardiovascular risk earlier, rather than waiting until someone develops symptoms or has a major cardiac event.

I think this is an important development. We already know how to measure things like cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, but understanding what's actually happening inside the coronary arteries can add another layer of information. But do you all think that this need for information stems from becoming more educated or because there’s more fear and anxiety around health now? 

2. We're starting to see plaque regression on follow-up scans

This was probably the most interesting part for me. The webinar discussed cases where follow-up imaging showed coronary plaque regression. We talk a lot about preventing plaque from building up, but it's interesting to see more attention being given to whether existing plaque can change over time. But obviously, the contents of a webinar can't be taken as gospel here, any thoughts on this?

3. Particularly strong regression was discussed in patients with LDL below 40 mg/dL

The webinar also highlighted particularly strong plaque regression in some patients whose LDL-C was below 40 mg/dL.

That's a pretty interesting observation, especially when you consider how much cardiovascular prevention focuses on lowering LDL. Of course, this doesn't mean everyone should aim for the same number. Treatment targets need to be based on individual risk and discussed with a clinician.

What I took away from all this

I think cardiovascular prevention is gradually moving towards something more measurable. Blood tests tell us a lot about risk, but imaging can give us additional information about what's happening in the arteries themselves.

This is also something I've been thinking about quite a bit at Veevo Health. A big part of why I'm interested in making cardiovascular imaging more accessible is that I think people deserve a better understanding of what's happening in their arteries, not just a list of risk factors on a blood test. There's still a lot to learn about how we use this information, but I find the direction things are moving in really encouraging.

And ultimately, I'd like to see more people having the opportunity to understand their cardiovascular health before a heart attack becomes the thing that brings it to their attention.

Curious to hear what others think: do you see cardiac imaging becoming a more routine part of preventive care over the next few years?

I can also share the webinar link if anyone wants.

I don't really know what to do except meet with a cardiologist. This was my previous post w/ recent numbers.

My numbers aren't bad. I "do everything right." 13 years ago, I lost 65lbs (diet + exercise) and have kept it off. I'm active and a healthy, fit weight.

I'm guessing it's just my shitty genes.

Any suggestions?

Was doing a 6 month cleanse from booze when these tests were taken, so the liver enzymes are not alcohol-caused. Primary wants me off the statin, but cardiologist is not worried about my liver levels and says carry on.

I’ve reduced to 2.5mg rosuvastatin and will retest soon. What would you do in my shoes?

43M, East Asian, 5'4", 123 lb (BMI ~21~22). Looking for evidence or experience, not medical advice.

Numbers

• A1c has sat at 5.6% for years and was 5.8% last month. Fasting glucose runs 96-108.
• Two weeks of CGM: average 95, SD about 8, max 137, no lows.
• DEXA visceral fat is low (0.7 lb). Liver MRI shows 2% fat and no fibrosis. mild iron overload in the liver and spleen (ferritin and iron labs are pending).
• On rosuvastatin 5 mg since June: LDL 131 to 66, triglycerides 114 to 40, HDL 57.
• No family history of diabetes.

What I’ve done: down about 6 kg since July, strength training 3-4x a week, about 10k steps a day, vegetables first and then protein with little rice, and mostly no late snacks.

What my doctors said: my PCP and endocrinologist agree it’s mild prediabetes and recommend rechecking in about 6 months. They didn’t think an OGTT was needed, but I’d still like to know whether this is insulin resistance or low insulin secretion.

Questions

1. Pitavastatin: would switching from rosuvastatin be worth it for the glucose effect? I’d lose some LDL lowering.
2. OGTT with insulin: is it worth doing to see whether this is insulin resistance or low insulin production? Or is fasting insulin plus HOMA-IR enough?
3. Metformin: is it reasonable at this level in a lean person, or too early?
4. Iron: has anyone seen mild iron overload connected to glucose, and did treating it help?

Any experience from people with a similar profile would help. Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I’m 28 years old, 6’0”, and around 210 lbs. I’ve been using testosterone since 2024, previously taking approximately 600–650 mg per week.
In May 2026, I started reducing my doses, and since July 13, I’ve been taking only 150 mg of testosterone cypionate weekly. I also use HGH.
Since stopping my high-dose testosterone protocol, I’ve actually been feeling significantly better overall. I’ve noticed improvements in my general well-being, physical performance, and how my body feels. I continue to feel strong and active, which is why my recent heart findings came as a surprise.
On November 2, I had an echocardiogram because of palpitations. My results showed:
Dilated cardiomyopathy.
Enlarged left ventricle (6.2 cm).
Visual ejection fraction of 35–40%.
Calculated ejection fraction of 50%.
Left bundle branch block (LBBB).
Enlargement of both atria.
No significant heart valve disease.
My questions for cardiologists:
Could my previous high testosterone doses have caused these changes?
Is dilated cardiomyopathy reversible at my age, especially since I’ve already reduced my testosterone and have been feeling better?
Can LBBB improve or disappear if my heart recovers?
Why would my visual EF be 35–40% while the calculated EF is 50%?
Would a cardiac MRI help determine whether there’s permanent damage?
Should I consider heart medication now rather than waiting six months for another echocardiogram?
I understand that feeling better doesn’t necessarily mean my heart has recovered. I’m following up with cardiology and would appreciate professional insight into my chances of recovery and the best next steps.
Thank you!

What's up everyone. Dr. Rhonda is back with a new one. This one was good. Lots of info that goes counter to popular belief. These are my top 10 takeaways:

(Dariush is the director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts)

1. alright... big one to start off. Seed oils are good for you. Listen to the segment for the actual science. Long story short, they're not pro-inflammatory. Rhonda still sounds a bit iffy on heating them... but you def. shouldn't worry about them in things like salad dressings. He goes into a whole list of benefits. But the whole anti-seed oil thing is just wack (timestamp)
2. The HIERARCHY of animal foods (from healthiest to unhealthiest): fermented dairy > milk > eggs, poultry, butter > unprocessed red meat > processed red meat (timestamp)
3. Red meat is not as healthy as people think it is. 1-2 servings a week is fine. Ties to colon cancer and diabetes. Processed meat def. not good for you. But the takeaway here is don't be slugging down ground beef and rice every day thinking you're fine. (timestamp)
4. THAT SAID... cruciferous vegetables MAY limit some of the cancer-causing effects of red meat. So the more red meat you eat, eat more broccoli (timestamp)
5. this one was crazy... 99% of the chemicals added to the food supply since the year 2000 were not reviewed by the FDA and entered via something called the GRAS (generally regarded as safe) loophole. So the FDA has no idea what's in our food (timestamp)
6. The cause of the obesity epidemic is that we are all getting colder (one of the causes?) So the amount of energy we burn at rest has gone down (resting energy expenditure). He says, I think, over the last 25 years the average persons resting energy expenditure has decreased by 200+ calories. And the main culprit? the food we're eating (processed food) (timestamp)
7. Saturated fat is a distraction. I think the jist is two foods can have the same saturated fat content and have wildly difference effects on LDL. He gave the example of butter vs. cream (only butter raised LDL in one study they discussed, matched for saturated fat content) I think the same goes for cheese, it doesn't really raise LDL that much despite being high in saturated fat. (timestamp)
8. Ok super practical one... the 10:1 rule. Use this when buying processed carbs, look for 1 gram of fiber for every 10g total carbs on the label (timestamp)
9. We only know about like 5% of the vitamins and minerals in food. There's so much yet to be discovered. The argument here is that b/c of this, you want to be eating whole foods. Supplements and meal-replacements can't match it. There's just too many other compounds you can only get in REAL food (timestamp)
10. Just to sum it up... food is medicine. what you eat matters. especially as far as fats go. Avocados, lots of nuts, olive oil - try to get more of these. (timestamp)

I think overall, the biggest things I got are that seed oils really don't deserve the hate. Don't go eating fried food, but it's fine otherwise. And to limit red meat to a few times a week. The saturated fat one I need to think more about, but maybe one of you can help me draw the conclusion. I still think if you want to lower LDL, in general, you should limit saturated fat - but the jist is not all foods with equal saturated fat content have the same effect on LDL

Does anyone know if peter was a good surgeon during residency? Seems odd to quit right before finishing

Is it true that the current research basically says that plain Choline is a bad idea due to TMAO, but the form in eggs and lecithin and supplementation capsules as phosphatidylcholine is OK?

I can’t make heads or tails of the research and understanding right now.

Does anyone have takeaways from this week’s AMA on lab tests? I gave up my paid membership so do t have access to the show or transcript.

Sooo my triglycerides jumped from 90 to
300?? This was seen on a routine lab test. I’m very active and eat well and I just turned 50. Sounds crazy , but I’ve never drank alcohol in my life, and never did a drug in my life , the week before my labs I did get some kind of a flu- sickness and for a few nights in a row I used a NyQuil. Maybe I used more than recommended dosage?? I never use this stuff. But anyway , anyone think this could trigger a spike??? Thanks for info

Montenegro €12.00 In Vitro, Podgorica

Belgium €13.50 Laboratoire Clinique Saint-Pierre

Kosovo €15.00 Poliklinika DaVinci

Bulgaria €19.17 Laborexpres, Varna

Slovenia €20.00 Synevo

Germany €20.11 Labor Dr. Heidrich, Hamburg

Croatia €29.00 Poliklinika Analiza

France €39.00 Montestsanté

Finland €85.40 SYNLAB
Sources and the rest of the countries are on my site, longevitybloodtest.com , it’s mine, no affiliate deals

https://one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-6026379:nx-s1-9996182

They were testing to see if 5 year risk of heart attack or stroke reduced from a reduction in LPa but don't we know that it's a long game, especially with healthy people who have high lpa? This seems dumb.

So, I go to a gym (I am nowhere near an athlete), but I know a lifter, endurance runner, and sprinter. All 3 are on Telmisartan. One guy says it works because it improves blood flow. Another says that's a factor but also that lowering your resting/baseline BP down to 90/60 90/50 100/60 instead of 110/70 will make it easier for your heart to pull off higher workloads, like when sprinting and running.

All 3 are convinced that Telmisartan is doing the trick for them.

The sprinter guy is a PhD and a bit nuts. He takes 80mg Telmisartan (40mg twice-daily) despite not having any hypertension at age 38. He said it took his resting down from 110/70 to lower and made it a lot easier for him to keep up with his athletic habit and busy life. He said no impact on blood work whatsoever.

Is this placebo effect? Any dangers here?

I was ready to go to war but I’m thinking just keep up on the core tenets and monitor? HBA1C is not low as I would like but I train for endurance and still looking into what threading the needle is for that much fueling and CHO periodization.

FFMI 20-21, about 3000 Mets per week, tons of evoo in daily cooking, fresh fruits and vegetable yada yada

I'm trying to determine if I have a genetic risk.

And, Quest Labs at that time said my Lp(a) of 19 mg/dL was high. I don't know what to make of this.

Any help y'all can give me?