Why Male Infertility Matters at Any Age
Even if you are not actively trying to conceive, maintaining a healthy sperm count is a marker of overall health. Recent studies have shown that sperm quality is decreasing at an alarming rate. With articles calling this phenomenon Spermageddon, it’s difficult not to be alarmed. Here’s a look at the facts so you can determine how concerned you need to be, as well as advice for naturally boosting your sperm count.
Decreasing Sperm Counts
In 2017 an international team of researchers released the data on the most comprehensive study on male sperm count ever completed. The study looked at semen samples from more than 40,000 men in 50 countries. The results showed a surprising 60 percent decrease in sperm count between 1973 and 2011.
Decreasing sperm counts were blamed, in part, on increased exposure to endocrine disruptors – a class of hormone-mimicking chemicals found in everything from plastics to pesticides.
Since this initial study, a new analysis published in Human Fertility journal has called some of the panic caused by this study into question. Researchers suggest a flawed methodology and argue that declining Western sperm counts are still well within the World Health Organization’s normal range of 15 to 259 million sperm per milliliter. The 2021 Human Fertility report did, however, verify that average sperm counts have decreased from 99 million sperm per milliliter to 47 million sperm per milliliter. While not optimal, it’s not until semen dips below 15 million sperm per milliliter that physicians become concerned. The researchers also noted that sperm counts tend to vary naturally over time, and within populations, and are not always an accurate indicator of fertility.
Male Reproductive Health
A positive thing about sperm count studies is that they have brought more attention to men’s reproductive health. Male infertility is responsible for at least half of all infertility issues, yet the focus for the inability to conceive has traditionally been placed on women.
Experts agree that too little attention is paid to the impact of low sperm count on male reproductive health. While men are encouraged to regularly monitor their cholesterol and blood pressure, for example, the same isn’t true for sperm count.
Even if you are not actively trying to conceive, your sperm count is important to your overall health. Poor sperm quality has been linked to illnesses such cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
How Do you Know if you Have a Low Sperm Count?
The only way to determine sperm count is with a semen analysis test conducted by a physician. Low sperm count, and its associated symptoms, are all a result of fluctuating testosterone levels. Some of these symptoms include decreased facial or body hair, difficulty maintaining an erection, and low sex drive. If these problems are an issue for you, it’s important to visit your physician and ask for a semen and hormone analysis.
Five Steps To Naturally Boost Your Sperm Count
There are natural steps you can take to improve your semen quality. Here are the top five ways you can have a positive impact your sperm count.
1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese is associated with poorer semen quality. Carrying excess weight can affect hormones such as testosterone, which are important for reproductive health.
2. Minimize Bad Habits
Smoking is strongly associated with increased infertility rates. There is also evidence that recreational drugs, heavy alcohol use, and a sedentary lifestyle all decrease sperm count.
3. Limit Hot Tub Use
There’s evidence to prove that regularly exposing the testicles to hot temperatures can decrease sperm production.
4. Don’t Compromise on Sleep
Most of your daily testosterone release occurs when you sleep. To keep your levels optimal aim for 7 to 8 hours of nightly rest.
5. Boxers over Briefs:
There is truth in the rumors of boxers over briefs. Evidence shows that breathy boxers are associated with higher sperm concentrations that tight briefs.
For more posts visit our news page.
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Heading 4
Heading 5
Heading 6
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Block quote
Ordered list
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
Unordered list
- Item A
- Item B
- Item C
Bold text
Emphasis
Superscript
Subscript
Muscle Your Way to Optimal Health
We all know that increasing muscle mass boosts our metabolism and improves body composition. New research published in Endocrine Reviews has found that skeletal muscles play a pivotal role in optimizing numerous areas of your health. Skeletal muscles maintain your posture, facilitate voluntary movement, protect your joints and are essential for breathing and body temperature regulation. What’s more, emerging evidence shows that skeletal muscles can secrete hormone-like proteins, like an endocrine organ, which can communicate with cells, tissues and organs throughout the body. This muscle-based, molecular messaging system can help keep your body and brain in top condition and can improve liver and blood vessel health and even have an anti-aging effect on the skin. Here’s a look at how muscles can positively impact your health.
Move to release myokines
For the first time ever, researchers are beginning to understand the biochemical mechanisms that make exercise so beneficial. While there is still much to learn in this area, it’s clear that movement triggers skeletal muscles to release myokines. They are a group of hormone-like proteins that may have autocrine (talks to different parts of the same cell), paracrine (signals adjacent cells), and endocrine effects. The latter makes it possible to “talk” long-distance to tissues and organs throughout the body, including the brain, adipose tissue, bone, liver, gut, pancreas, vascular bed and skin. The result is relaying messages to take a specific health-protective action. For example, after a workout, your skeletal muscles secrete a myokine called IL-10, which sends a message to the immune cells in your liver to lower inflammation.
Muscle boosts brain function
Regular exercise and building muscle mass reduce anxiety and depression, bring more blood flow to the brain, and can even improve and preserve cognitive function.
In fact, researchers at McGill University found that low muscle mass is associated with faster cognitive decline.
Movement encourages skeletal muscles to release two myokines, irisin and CTSB, that communicate with, and increase, levels of the molecule brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. BDNF promotes cell survival and regulates plastic changes related to learning and memory.
The muscle-immunity connection
Contracting muscles boost your immune system. They secrete several myokines, including IL-6 and IL-1RA, that help to regulate the function of immune cells such as macrophages and monocytes. IL-6 and IL-15 also regulate the maturation and distribution of natural killer (NK) cells that take action on tumors.
That’s not all: Active muscle produces an amino acid called glutamine, which is consumed by immune cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages to enhance their energy and performance.
Muscle benefits bone health
From a mechanical standpoint, moving your muscles regularly helps to maintain bone density, reduce your risk of fractures and improve bone healing. Additionally, exercise releases myokines Irisin, IL7 or IL15 from your muscles. These are associated with overall bone health, including formation, mineralization and recovery from fractures.
Your exercise prescription
It’s clearer than ever that fitness should be a priority in your lifespan and healthspan plan. How should you pump up? Research suggests that overall myokine levels are lower in moderate physical activity and abundant after workouts that are longer or high-intensity. Speak with your Fountain Life Health Coordinator for assistance in creating a fitness regimen that will bring out the best in your body, so you can live a long and healthy life.
SOURCES
https://muhc.ca/news-and-patient-stories/news/ri-muhc-study-shows-association-low-muscle-mass-cognitive-decline#:~:text=Muscles%20also%20secrete%20molecules%20that,greater%20risk%20of%20cognitive%20decline.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00698/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7288608/
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrrheum.2014.193
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21787-skeletal-muscle
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.582258/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2019.00363/full
Microbiome Dysbiosis
The human microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms present in the body. When it’s in balance, it contains only healthy microbes that support and maintain a healthy body. Microbes in the mouth and stomach contain genetic materials that sends signals to the body in health and in illness. When the microbiome is unbalanced, the presence or absence of any type of microbe can have an effect on many systems in the body, and lead to several diseases. That negative state is called microbiome dysbiosis.
Microbiome Dysbiosis has Both Internal and External Causes
Microbiome dysbiosis affects both the oral microbiome and the gut microbiome. As you would expect, the foods you eat can affect your microbiome in both positive and negative ways. For instance, a diet heavy in sugars and low in fiber can cause dysregulation of the microbes that control digestion and cause conditions like diarrhea, constipation, Irritable Bowel Disease and other ailments of the digestive tract.Dysbiosis can also be caused by host-specific factors such as genetic background, health status (infections, inflammation), and lifestyle habits or—more importantly—environmental factors such as diet (high sugar, low fibre), xenobiotics (antibiotics, drugs, food additives), and hygiene. Just an aging body can cause microbiome dysbiosis. “One of the newest hallmarks of aging is what we call gut dysbiosis”, says Dr. Helen Messier, Fountain Life Chief Medical and Science Officer. “We know that as people age, their microbiome begins to change, and it changes for the worse.” The diversity of the gut microbiome is a cause of this worsening, which means that the gut is missing some of the microbes and metabolites necessary to carry on the body’s processes.
The Oral Microbiome is Linked to Several Illnesses
Several studies have linked both the oral and gut microbiomes to cardiovascular disease. It has been shown that affect compounds like short-chain fatty acids and metabolites that process lipids make this connection between mouth and heart. As expected, the oral microbiome dysbiosis also leads to periodontal disease and other oral conditions. Gut microbiome is also connected to cardiovascular disease. One study revealed that gut microbiota can produce trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite linked to arterial stiffness and coronary artery disease. This production is triggered by certain foods, like beef, pork and eggs. The microbiome is also linked to other diseases like depression (as it is thought to control the production of serotonin) and even COVID. It is very important, then, to make sure that microbiome dysbiosis isn’t present.
Microbiome Dysbiosis Can be Treated
The good news is that microbiome dysbiosis can be treated, and the first steps to treatment are diagnosis and prevention. Fountain Life provides a test of the gut microbiome as part of the APEX and EDGE memberships. Dr. Messier explains the diagnostic process: “[W]e look at the gut microbes specifically by doing a stool test, and sequencing what microbes are there and what their activity is. And then we also look at metabolites that are released from the microbe, that are floating around in your blood and show up in your urine. ”Once your microbiome test is complete and evaluated by a Longevity Physician, APEX members will have access to a host of treatment options designed to address the specifics of your microbiome dysbiosis. Your entire Fountain Life Health Care Team – including a health care coordinator, nurse, nurse practitioner and health care coach – will be with you throughout your entire APEX membership, helping you understand your results, and making sure that you get the exact care you need. If you do not have a microbiome deficiency, your team will make sure you get any preventative treatments to keep your body as healthy as possible. You can be sure that with Fountain Life, your health care plan will be designed to give you the preventive care you need, with the personalized service that you want.
.jpg)
Health Wearables – Are They Worth the Price Tag
In the age of tech-driven health solutions, the buzz around health wearables continues to escalate. These nifty devices promise to track your health metrics effortlessly, but are they worth the hype? Let's dive in.
The Accuracy Dilemma
The accuracy of health wearables in tracking health metrics can vary depending on the type of device and the specific metric being measured. Here are some general considerations:
Fitness Trackers
- Wearables designed for tracking basic health metrics such as steps taken, distance walked, and calories burned are generally accurate for these purposes. However, the accuracy may vary between different brands and models.
Heart Rate Monitors
- Many wearables now include heart rate monitoring features. While they are generally accurate for steady-state activities, their accuracy may decrease during high-intensity workouts or activities with a lot of movement.
Sleep Trackers
- Some wearables claim to monitor sleep patterns. While they can provide useful insights, sleep tracking accuracy may be limited compared to professional sleep studies conducted in a controlled environment.
Blood Pressure Monitors
- Some advanced wearables include blood pressure monitoring features. However, the accuracy of these measurements may not be as reliable as traditional blood pressure cuffs.
ECG and Blood Oxygen Monitors
- Wearables with ECG (electrocardiogram) and blood oxygen monitoring capabilities have become more common. While they can provide valuable information, their accuracy may differ from medical-grade equipment.
Skin Temperature Sensors
- Some wearables include sensors to measure skin temperature. While changes in skin temperature can provide insights into overall health, these measurements may not be as accurate as core body temperature measurements.
How Can They Help on Your Longevity Journey
They're not magic pills but health wearables and apps that empower your longevity journey. They aid in monitoring, motivation, and informed choices. Health wearables and health apps serve as pivotal components in the pursuit of a longer, healthier life. Their real-time monitoring capabilities empower individuals to check their health parameters constantly.
Beyond monitoring, these devices act as motivators, nudging users towards healthier choices by tracking progress and encouraging consistent engagement in physical activities. The data they provide assists in making informed decisions regarding lifestyle changes, exercise routines, and overall well-being. They're effective companions in the journey toward better health but should supplement, not supplant, professional medical advice and validated devices for precise health assessments and interventions.
Proactive Health Insights
While wearables might give hints, predicting health issues or detecting anomalies before they become problematic is a tall order. This is where Fountain Life steps in. With a Fountain Life membership, you'll receive a 150 GB "upload" of imaging, genetics, and blood diagnostics that maximize your vitality and healthspan. By providing top-of-the-line health snapshots, vetted therapeutics, and a team of longevity physicians, we provide long-life, life-long treatments to help you reverse disease and live optimally.
The Reality Check
Health wearables aren't substitutes for professional medical guidance. They're excellent for personal insights and motivation but should be independent of significant health decisions. For individuals with specific health concerns or those requiring precise medical measurements, it is advisable to consult with healthcare professionals and use clinically validated devices. Always consider health wearables as tools for personal insights rather than as medical diagnostic devices. So, are health wearables worth it? They're not flawless, but as tools for self-awareness and motivation, they certainly have a place in your health toolbox!
Exploring MRI with AI as a Preventative Diagnostics Tool
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence are reinventing medical care and changing the way we diagnose illnesses. As Fountain Life co-founder Peter Diamandis points out in his book The Future is Faster Than you Think, “convergence of sensors, networks, and AI is upending medical diagnosis.”
One of the areas Fountain Life is most excited about is our full body MRI with AI. Our non-invasive MRI provides a head-to-toe scan, using a powerful magnetic field that allows doctors to see a 3D rendering of your body and brain. Unlike an X-ray, there are no negative effects on your body. Through convergence Fountain Life can link the MRI imaging with artificial intelligence (AI) to scan for any abnormalities or irregularities.
MRI with AI allows doctors to see, with unparalleled precision, the body, and spot abnormalities at their earliest – and usually treatable – stage. It can reveal cancer tumors before they arrive at stage 3 or 4, and even find small aneurysms in the brain. It can also show neurodegeneration and signs of blood vessels narrowing in the brain and heart, and offers imaging of all organs in the body, such as the liver and kidneys.
Annual MRI with AI Testing for Fountain Life Members
Fountain Life members can use this valuable tool annually to find illnesses in their infancy before they can cause harm. While no one wants to hear that they have cancer, finding it early saves lives. You can start treatment for cancer while it’s still at an early, highly treatable stage. Alternatively, based on findings, you may be instructed to change medications or modify your lifestyle to help prevent or reverse heart disease or even dementia!
All Fountain Life members receive an MRI scan with AI annually as part of our precision diagnostics preventative tests. Together, these annual tests play a key role in helping you live to 100 – while feeling like you’re 60.
Time Anxiety Could Be Ruining Your Productivity
Do deadlines make you particularly anxious? Do you constantly worry that you’ll be late for appointments? If so, you have been experiencing a condition called time anxiety, and it can rob your productivity. Time anxiety is a general sense of stress or unease related to time. It involves feeling pressured, overwhelmed, or anxious about time-related factors like dates, appointments, and being late. While time anxiety presents itself in many ways, there are also solutions and treatments for this often-debilitating condition.
Identifying Time Anxiety
Most people experience anxiety when they are late, or if they have missed an important meeting. However, when you live with time anxiety, your feelings about time-related concepts often exist without concrete reasons or triggers. Time anxiety is accompanied by various features that manifest in an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the following ways:
- Constant Worry: People with time anxiety often experience continued worry about the passage of time. They often feel pressure when faced with deadlines, often worrying that they won't have enough time to complete tasks. This worry can extend to worries about lateness and about missing appointments, or manifest as an overall unease about the day getting later.
- Fear of the Future: There is often an underlying fear of the future associated with time anxiety. People may worry about potential negative outcomes of planned or unknown activities. Those with this feature of time anxiety may worry about specific events in the future or may deal with existential dread, a generalized worry about the passage of time and the unknowable future.
- Sense of Urgency: The average person feels motivated to complete time-limited or urgent projects. However, people with time anxiety may feel a heightened sense of urgency in their actions. always rushing to complete tasks or meet deadlines, even when the situation might not require immediate attention.
- Procrastination: Though they are obsessed with lateness and deadlines, some people with time anxiety may also engage in procrastination. The fear of not having enough time can be overwhelming, and that fear can lead to avoiding tasks until the last minute. Unsurprisingly, procrastination feeds on existing anxiety and causes further worry.
- Feeling uneasy when you don’t get around to everything you had planned to: ?When Alex Lickerman, MD, described this factor of time anxiety, he used a vacation as a metaphor. When you go away, you make plans and create timelines. Before a trip, you may look at upcoming plans with pleasant anticipation. However, if you don’t complete all your plans, you may become more preoccupied with the sites and attractions you missed than with those you could see. This dwelling on the negative can turn into obsession with what was missed, and a self-renewing cycle of anxiety and regret.
- Impaired Time Management: Paradoxically, even with their intense focus on time and time-related concepts, people with time anxiety may struggle with effective time management. The anxiety may interfere with their ability to plan and prioritize tasks efficiently. Procrastination falls under this umbrella, as do misjudging the time it takes to complete a task or misunderstanding the tools needed to keep an effective schedule.
Treatment is Available for Time Anxiety
The good news is that time anxiety can be treated with intervention by mental health professionals and others who treat mental and emotional maladies. Treatments for time anxiety are like those for other types of anxiety. They range from the clinical to the recreational. The Cleveland Clinic notes that these four treatments are effective for people with time anxiety:
- Talk therapy - A licensed therapist will help you uncover the source of your condition and provide a safe space to explore the lifestyle components of your time anxiety.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT deals with identifying the thoughts that trigger compulsive activities, and then “retraining” the brain to choose healthier responses to anxiety.
- Hypnotherapy – A licensed hypnotherapist uses focus and breathing to bring you into a calm, dream-like state. In that position, you can feel safe to explore experiences and trauma that may have led to time anxiety. A hypnotherapist can also give you a post-hypnotic suggestion, which will replace anxious thoughts and behaviors once you wake up.
- Meditation – Many people use meditation to treat various forms of anxiety, and it can be used to treat time anxiety. Meditation trains you on how to breathe and focus your mind in a particular way that calms your mind and reduces your stress response. In a calmer state, your anxiety will lessen.
Time-related mental conditions like time anxiety can be very debilitating. Fortunately, once it is identified properly, you can receive treatments to make it less of a disruption to your life.
Unmasking the Hidden Threat
New studies link endocrine disrupting chemicals with reproductive health
The human endocrine system comprises a network of glands that produce and secrete hormones, which are chemical substances responsible for controlling a range of bodily functions. The major glands that make up the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands. These glands regulate various body functions such as metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among others. The system operates via feedback mechanisms that maintain a stable internal environment, or homeostasis, within the body.
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a class of environmental toxins that can interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. These chemicals can mimic, block, or alter the hormones in the body, leading to a disruption in the body's normal hormone balance. New research have connected EDC exposure to disrupt metabolic and reproductive health in men and women.
We are exposed to EDCs every day
Commonly encountered Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals include Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and certain pesticides. BPA is frequently found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, often used in food and beverage packaging and toys. Phthalates are commonly used in PVC plastics, cosmetics, and medical devices. PCBs were once widely used in coolants, flame retardants, and insulators, and despite being banned in the 1970s, residues persist in the environment. Certain pesticides, such as DDT, used to control pests in agriculture, can also act as endocrine disruptors. These chemicals often enter our bodies through the consumption of contaminated food and water, inhalation of polluted air, or physical contact with contaminated products. EDCs also include parabens, commonly used as food preservatives; and triclosan,?an antimicrobial compound used in personal care products.
EDCs have effects on women’s reproductive and metabolic systems
In this year’s studies, researchers identified impacts of EDCs on women’s reproductive health, including:
- Early menopause
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Delayed menarche
- Uterine fibroids
Several of these conditions are not only disruptive to reproduction, but they also increase the risk of breast and uterine cancers. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals were also found to cause metabolic syndrome, a disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke – three of the most life-limiting health conditions.
Men’s reproductive health also takes a turn when exposed to EDCs
In a separate research review of endocrine disruptors on men, the team found that the chemicals caused several reproductive issues, including:
- Irregular testosterone levels
- Infertility
- Reduced sperm production, quality, and motility
- Testicular abnormalities and cancer
These conditions not only impact fertility but can be life-threatening Low testosterone is associated with loss of bone density and muscle mass; high testosterone is associated with prostate cancer.
How to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptive chemicals
- Choose household and personal care products formulated without EDCs
- Look for plastic bottles that are BPA free, and better yet, drink from reusable bottles
- Limit plastic usage in your home, and replace it with wood, glass, or metal
- Eat organic foods that have not been exposed to pesticides
Fountain Life can help
As part of our APEX membership, Fountain Life delivers diagnostics that test for the effects of these dangerous chemicals in your body. Fountain Life offers a comprehensive suite of tests that help to identify damage caused by environmental chemicals such as EDC's. With our APEX Membership, Fountain Life can help you identify diseases before you have symptoms, and provide a suite of diagnostics and therapeutics to keep you performing and living at your best.
Understanding Hard Plaque vs. Soft Plaque
Your heart is the engine that keeps your body running, and taking care of it should be a top priority. Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, and one of its primary culprits is the buildup of arterial plaque. While many people are familiar with the concept of plaque in the arteries, it's crucial to understand the difference between hard and soft plaque and how getting preventative heart scans, such as Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA), can help prevent heart attacks, aneurysms, and other life-threatening conditions.
The plaque predicament
Arterial plaque is a substance that builds up inside your arteries over time. This plaque is composed of various substances, including cholesterol, fat, calcium, and cellular waste. However, not all plaque is created equal. Plaque can be categorized into two primary types: hard and soft plaque.
Hard plaque vs. soft plaque
- Hard Plaque: Hard plaque, also known as calcified plaque, is the more stable and older form of arterial buildup. It is characterized by the presence of calcium deposits within the plaque itself. This calcium makes the plaque hard and inflexible, like a rigid shell. Over time, hard plaque can narrow the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. It may eventually lead to a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerosis.
- Soft Plaque: Soft plaque, on the other hand, is the more dangerous and volatile form of arterial buildup. Unlike hard plaque, soft plaque is composed of fatty deposits and inflammatory cells, making it soft and unstable. This type of plaque can rupture suddenly, leading to blood clots that can block blood flow to the heart or other vital organs. When a blood clot obstructs an artery supplying the heart, it can result in a heart attack. Soft plaque is also associated with an increased risk of aneurysms, which are potentially life-threatening bulges in blood vessel walls.
Preventative heart scans: The role of CCTA
Now that we understand the difference between hard and soft plaque, it's clear why preventative measures are so crucial. One of the most effective tools in early detection and prevention is the Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) scan. CCTA is a non-invasive imaging test that uses advanced CT technology to create detailed, 3D images of the coronary arteries. Here's how CCTA can help:
- Early Detection: CCTA can identify both hard and soft plaque in the coronary arteries, allowing for early intervention and treatment.
- Risk Assessment: By assessing the type and extent of plaque present, CCTA can help determine your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and aneurysms.
- Treatment Planning: Based on the findings from a CCTA scan, healthcare providers can develop personalized treatment plans, which may include lifestyle changes, medications, or even procedures to remove or bypass blockages.
- Assessment of Anomalies: CCTA can also identify other cardiac anomalies, such as congenital heart defects or abnormalities in the structure of the coronary arteries.
- Peace of Mind: Regular CCTA scans can provide peace of mind for individuals at higher risk of heart disease, allowing them to monitor changes in plaque buildup over time and make necessary adjustments to their health regimen.
The Secret to Living a Longer and Healthier Life
Precision Diagnostics is the most critical thing you can do to reduce chronic illness risk.
You may be doing all you can to lead an active, healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise and annual physicals, yet heart disease, cancer and stroke still account for 77 percent of all deaths in people over the age of 65. The grim statistics are mostly due to the fact that regular medicine still relies on 200-year-old diagnostics tools to forecast your health. Fortunately, Fountain Life’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and new data collection technologies allow us to see inside the body in a way that was never before possible. That means masses or abnormalities that would previously have gone unnoticed can now be caught in their earliest phases when non-invasive intervention is still highly effective. With this incredible technology at your fingertips, we truly believe that 100 is the new 60!
By focusing on prevention and early detection, the superior science behind Precision Diagnostics can significantly delay or even prevent diseases such as: cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular conditions. It can also stave off illnesses caused by insulin resistance, autoimmunity, and inflammation. Precision Diagnostics testing has proved to be a life-saving tool for our clients.
Your ticket to longevity begins with taking advantage of Fountain Life’s Precision Diagnostics package, which includes a full body and brain MRI with Artificial Intelligence, AI Coronary Artery Scan, Early Cancer Detection Test, Executive Blood Panel, Biological Age, Whole Genome Sequencing, Gut Microbiome Analysis, DEXA Bone Density Scan and a detailed return of results with a Fountain Life physician.
Here’s a brief summary of each part of our essential health package:
Full Body and Brain MRI
Our non-invasive MRI provides a snapshot of the entire body and brain, then links it with AI to scan for any abnormalities. Custom MRI protocols have a high accuracy in cancer detection, while specific organs can be imaged in detail for advanced protocols. The leading AI technology can also analyze brain patterns to detect neurodegenerative diseases in their infancy.
AI Coronary Artery Scan
If there’s a heart attack looming in your future three, five or 10 years down the road, this new AI-guided approach to Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) allows us to detect the warning signs so you can take actions to prevent it. We do this by accurately assessing your present-day heart disease risk by identifying newer, soft plaque that is prone to rupture. By using a non-invasive injection of an iodinated contrast media, the AI Coronary Artery Scan can examine the arteries that supply blood to your heart and determine whether they have narrowed. This visual snapshot allows us to implement changes and treatments where necessary so we can prevent heart attack, heart failure, stroke and even dementia.
Executive Blood Panel
Receive a comprehensive blood work panel to assess your kidney and liver function; vitamin, mineral and hormone levels; lipid panel; and glucose markers. This test will flag potential health risks and enable our team to make suggestions to optimize your health and performance – including nutritional and lifestyle changes.
Early Cancer Detection
Detect cancer in its early stages with our multi-cancer early detection blood test. This simple test screens for over 50 types of cancer—over 45 of which lack regular screening tests today. This multi-cancer early detection test is effective in finding cancers at stages 0 to 1, enabling doctors to treat before cancer spreads or causes harm.
DEXA Bone Density Scan
Our DEXA bone density scan measures the mineral content of your bones and, ultimately, your bone strength. This provides helpful details on your risk for osteoporosis (bone loss) and fractures (bone breaks). The DEXA scan can track bone health changes over time and monitor treatment to determine its efficacy. DEXA also measures body composition, such as body fat and muscle mass.
Gut Microbiome Analysis
Keeping the balance between good and bad bacteria is essential for optimal immunity, digestion, and overall health. Assessing GI can be especially helpful for those who have vague symptoms that they have been unable to previously diagnose, as well as conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Determine Your Biological Age
This epigenetic test looks at methylation markers on your DNA to predict your biological age in comparison to your chronological age, and further determine how these changes will affect your body and overall health. The test looks at over 900,000 locations on the DNA, then uses a machine learning algorithm to find correlations linked to health outcomes. Your biological age determined by this test is potentially more accurate at predicting health span (how healthy you are) and lifespan (how long you will live) than any previous molecular biomarker.
Whole Genome Sequencing
Sequence your DNA with whole-exome sequencing for the broadest insight possible into your DNA. This genomic testing is the first to integrate DNA sequencing data with lab values and other properties to enable us to better understand how your DNA affects your health. Using sophisticated computer algorithms, we can link the gene variations you have to peer-reviewed published papers to determine the impact of even very rare mutations. The database contains more than 350,000 associations between genomic mutations and health-related findings, making it the world’s most powerful DNA test.
Live at your Pinnacle
It’s not enough to just live longer, at Fountain Life we make it possible for you to live better so that you can live at the top of your health summit. Cutting-edge science and artificial intelligence (AI) tests offer insights into finding illness earlier than ever before. As a valued APEX member, our promise to you is to be the trusted fiduciary for all your health needs. From medical, nutritional and lifestyle recommendations, our primary goal is to extend lifespan while optimizing your health span.
Preventative, predictive and personalized care
Welcome to preventative, predictive and personalized health care that puts you at the center of your lifelong wellness journey. Fountain Life’s APEX membership offers early detection technology, advanced treatment plans and concierge medical service. The primary goal of this membership is to find illnesses in their infancy before they can cause harm, and then provide the necessary treatments and resources to turn the table on cancer, heart disease, dementia and a host of other ailments.
Your annual APEX Membership includes:
Full Body and Brain MRI with AI
A snapshot of the entire body and brain, which will identify any masses or abnormalities before they become symptomatic.
AI Coronary Artery Scan
Our AI Coronary Artery Scan, also known as Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA), allows us to accurately assess present-day heart disease risk, providing the opportunity to implement changes to prevent heart attack, heart failure, stroke and even dementia.
DEXA Bone Density Scan
Osteoporosis risk and fractures are detected as well as measuring the mineral content of bones and bone strength. Body fat and muscle mass are also determined.
4 Executive Blood Panels
Comprehensive blood work assesses kidney and liver function; vitamin, mineral and hormone levels; lipid panel and glucose makers. Four times a year this blood analysis will be conducted, and customized nutritional and lifestyle suggestions will help optimize your health and performance on an ongoing basis.
4 Review of Results
After each blood panel test, your personalized health coach will meet with you and adjust your programming and supplement recommendations according to the results obtained.
Early Cancer Detection Test
An annual screening of 50 types of cancer, more than 45 types of cancer that aren’t screened in regular testing. This multi-cancer early detection test is able to identify cancers at stage 0 to 1, permitting the luxury of proactive treatment in its infancy long before any harmful spread occurs.
Determine Your Biological Age
This epigenetic test looks at methylation markers on your DNA to predict your biological age in comparison to your chronological age, and further determine how these changes will affect your body and overall health. The test looks at over 900,000 locations on the DNA, then uses a machine learning algorithm to find correlations linked to health outcomes. Your biological age determined by this test is potentially more accurate at predicting healthspan (how healthy you are) and lifespan (how long you will live) than any previous molecular biomarker.
Whole Genome Sequencing
Sequence your DNA with whole-exome sequencing for the broadest insight possible into your DNA. This genomic testing is the first to integrate DNA sequencing data with lab values and other properties to enable us to better understand how your DNA affects your health. Using sophisticated computer algorithms, we can link the gene variations you have to peer-reviewed published papers to determine the impact of even very rare mutations. The database contains more than 350,000 associations between genomic mutations and health-related findings, making it the world’s most powerful DNA test. Performed only in Year One of your Apex Membership.
Heart Monitoring Analysis
If any flags occur as a result from the CCTA testing, your heart will be monitored throughout the year by our medical team ensuring effective treatments will reduce any risk of heart disease
Gut Microbiome Analysis
Keeping the balance between good and bad bacteria is essential for optimal immunity, digestion, and overall health. Assessing GI can be especially helpful for those who have vague symptoms that they have been unable to previously diagnose, as well as conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Concierge Physician
Access to a Fountain Life Concierge Physician to answer any medical and proactive health questions you have throughout your journey.
Health Coordinator
Contact your dedicated Fountain Life Health Coordinator for all scheduling inquiries, updates, questions and more.
Emotional Support
We recognize that preventative diagnostics can be an emotional journey for our members. That’s why, if and when disease is detected, our experienced medical team will chart out a therapeutic treatment plan and ensure that you feel safe and empowered throughout the entire process.
Superior healthcare is also about providing exceptional service, which means we’ll proactively take care of all scheduling. As an APEX member, your Fountain Life Healthcare Coordinator and Concierge Physician will proactively reach out to you to thoroughly review results and ensure all medications and supplements are up-to-date based on your latest test results. Anytime you need support on your health journey, our team is available via phone, text or teleconference; we make your healthcare needs are our highest priority.
Living at the top of your health summit means having a team of longevity scientists, physicians and health experts you can count on. We’re continually reviewing the latest advances in medical research so that we can identify compelling treatments for our patients. With Fountain Life Centers soon to be located around the world, our full suite of services and medical care will be available to members no matter where their travels take them.
Are you ready to reach your personal health apex?
Schedule a call today to learn more.
Make Time Wait For You
