Current:Home > MarketsI got 14 medical tests done at this fancy resort. I didn't need most of them. -MarketPoint
I got 14 medical tests done at this fancy resort. I didn't need most of them.
View
Date:2025-04-16 14:12:56
TUCSON, Ariz. – You know the drill. You go to the doctor's office for your annual physical. Everything looks OK, but they recommend some routine bloodwork to check a couple of things to be safe.
Imagine doing that – plus more than a dozen other tests – and you'll understand what I experienced at Canyon Ranch, a wellness resort offering a new longevity program called "Longevity8" with eight health pillars: integrative medicine, mental and emotional health, strength and endurance, sleep, flexibility and fitness, spiritual wellness, nutrition and outdoor experiences. It will cost a pricey $20,000 for single people and $36,000 for couples.
Here's a look at all the tests I had done as part of the program – and what outside medical professionals actually thought was worth it.
- Extensive bloodwork (beyond what a doctor would typically prescribe)
- Galleri cancer screening
- EKG
- Carotid doppler
- Pulmonary function test
- Diet intake and consultation
- Continuous glucose monitoring
- Therapy session
- Spirituality session
- Joint assessment
- DEXA body composition and bone density analysis
- Genetic testing
- VO2 max assessment
- Sleep study
What is the average life expectancy?And how to improve your longevity.
What medical tests does the average person need? Not many.
Overall, outside medical experts I spoke to thought most of the testing I had done was highly specialized and unnecessary for the average person. Multiple doctors recommended people check out the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for guidance on any kind of preventive care.
Looking at the Canyon Ranch protocol specifically: The most reasonable tests were the bloodwork and diet intake and consultation, according to Dr. Douglas E. Vaughan, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the director of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute. Specific patient populations might benefit from specialized tests, like the DEXA body composition (i.e. women after menopause who typically lose bone density). Certain symptoms might prompt some of these assessments as well. Asthmatic patients, for example, might want a pulmonary function test after chatting with their doctor.
The VO2 max assessment is "usually performed for athletes or individuals interested in cardiovascular fitness," says Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Not standard for routine screening." Ditto for the continuous glucose monitoring: It's "primarily used for individuals with diabetes or prediabetes to manage and monitor glucose levels."
The short answer: No need to break the bank, and if you want to do some additional testing, blood work is probably your best bet. Still, if you'd like to take it a step further, you can easily find specialty facilities and doctors who will be happy to take your check.
The reporter on this story received access to these services from Canyon Ranch. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
veryGood! (53)
Related
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Where RHOSLC's Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow Stand Today After Years-Long Feud
- Texas Supreme Court rejects attempt to stop law banning gender-affirming care for most minors
- Week 1 college football predictions: Here are our expert picks for every Top 25 game
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- White House asks Congress to pass short-term spending bill to avert government shutdown
- Texas Supreme Court rejects attempt to stop law banning gender-affirming care for most minors
- Orsted delays 1st New Jersey wind farm until 2026; not ready to ‘walk away’ from project
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Up First briefing: Labor Day travel; 9/11 trial; best summer video games
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Most states have yet to permanently fund 988 Lifeline despite early successes
- US jobs report for August could point to a moderating pace of hiring as economy gradually slows
- Regé-Jean Page and Girlfriend Emily Brown Make Rare Public Outing at 2023 Venice Film Festival
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmatí dedicates award to Jenni Hermoso; Sarina Wiegman speaks out
- 'This is not right': Young teacher killed by falling utility pole leads to calls for reform
- West Virginia college files for bankruptcy a month after announcing intentions to close
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
5 entire families reportedly among 39 civilians killed by shelling as war rages in Sudan's Darfur region
Mississippi authorities to investigate fatal shooting by sheriff’s deputies while attempting arrest
The pause is over. As student loan payments resume, how to make sure you're prepared
SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
Wildfire risk again in Hawaii: Forecasters warning about dryness and winds
EBY's Seamless Bralettes & Briefs Are What Your Intimates Drawer Has Been Missing
Could ‘One Health’ be the Optimal Approach for Human, Animal and Environmental Health?