5 Biomarkers Your Annual Physical Might Be Missing

Your annual physical is an important part of staying healthy. But if your bloodwork only includes the basics, you may be missing valuable insights into your long-term health.

Traditional primary care often focuses on screening for disease and identifying results outside standard reference ranges. A functional medicine approach takes a broader view, using additional biomarkers when appropriate to better understand metabolic health, nutrient status, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk.

At The Lanby, we believe your labs should do more than tell you whether something is wrong. They should help you understand your health today and identify opportunities to support it for the long term.

Here are five biomarkers worth discussing with your doctor.

1. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB): A Closer Look at Heart Health

A standard cholesterol panel measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. While these are important indicators of cardiovascular health, they don't tell the whole story for everyone.

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) measures the concentration of particles that can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. For some people, ApoB provides a more informative picture of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol alone.

It may be particularly useful for people with diabetes, elevated triglycerides, or a family history of early cardiovascular disease.

2. Hemoglobin A1c: Understanding Blood Sugar Trends

Fasting glucose offers a snapshot of your blood sugar at one point in time. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) estimates your average blood sugar over approximately the previous two to three months.

This can help identify prediabetes and diabetes, sometimes before noticeable symptoms develop.

Although HbA1c is included in many routine physicals, it isn't always ordered for every patient. Depending on your risk factors, it may be worth discussing whether it belongs in your screening plan.

3. High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP): Measuring Inflammation

Inflammation is part of the body's normal immune response, but persistently elevated levels of certain inflammatory markers can provide useful health information.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) measures low levels of CRP in the blood and can help refine cardiovascular risk assessment.

It isn't a standalone measure of overall inflammation or a diagnosis of a specific condition. Results must be interpreted in context, since infections, injuries, and other factors can temporarily raise levels.

4. Ferritin: Looking Beyond Your Iron Levels

A standard complete blood count (CBC) can help identify anemia, but it doesn't directly measure your body's iron stores.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron, and its level can help identify depleted iron stores, including in some people whose hemoglobin is still normal.

This can be especially relevant if you experience fatigue, have heavy menstrual periods, follow a diet low in iron, or have a history of iron deficiency.

Ferritin can also rise with inflammation, so it should be interpreted alongside your symptoms and other relevant lab results.

5. Vitamin B12: Supporting Energy and Nervous System Health

Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and healthy nerve function.

Vitamin B12 isn't included in every routine bloodwork panel, but testing may be appropriate if you have persistent fatigue, neurological symptoms, follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, or have certain digestive conditions or medication exposures that affect absorption.

Identifying a deficiency can help your clinician determine whether dietary changes, supplementation, or further evaluation is needed.

Beyond the Standard Annual Physical

These five biomarkers are not necessary for everyone, and a more comprehensive panel doesn't automatically mean better care. The right tests depend on your personal and family history, symptoms, existing conditions, medications, and risk factors.

The difference is in the approach: rather than ordering the same tests for every patient, a thoughtful clinician considers which results could meaningfully inform your care.

A More Comprehensive Approach to Bloodwork at The Lanby

At The Lanby, we take a personalized, proactive approach to primary care that brings conventional medicine together with functional and lifestyle medicine.

Our comprehensive baseline bloodwork panel evaluates 85+ biomarkers to help build a more complete picture of your health. Your care team interprets your results in the context of your health history, symptoms, and goals, using those insights to guide personalized recommendations and follow-up testing when appropriate.

Because your health deserves more than a quick look at whether your results fall within the standard range.

Ready to take a more proactive approach to your health?

Book a Discovery Call with The Lanby to learn how our personalized approach to primary care and comprehensive bloodwork can help you better understand your health, identify opportunities for improvement, and build a plan for the long term.