My first job felt like cleaning up 20 years of bad decisions that looked like normal life. 

Metabolic disease doesn't announce itself—it compounds quietly while you're "fine" until your heart gives out or your brain shorts or you lose a limb. I was the last stop, and by then, I was just damage control with a scalpel.

It took me 2 years to realize I was fighting downstream from the actual war. So I pivoted to meet people where prevention still matters.

⚕️ What you'll learn:
The real timeline of metabolic disease (it starts way earlier than diagnosis)
How cardiovascular damage compounds silently for decades
Why "managing" disease isn't the same as preventing it
The moment I realized surgery was the wrong battlefield
What actually moves the needle before you're on my table

If you've been told your numbers are "fine for now" or you're "pre-" anything—this is for you. The window to act is bigger than you think, but it doesn't stay open forever.
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🧬 About Dr. Lily Johnston
  
Dr. Johnston is a double board-certified vascular and general surgeon in San Diego, specializing in metabolic and cardiovascular prevention. She’s the founder of CorSight Health and a passionate advocate for reimagining how medicine approaches chronic disease.
  
#MetabolicHealth #CardiovascularPrevention #HeartHealth #Longevity #InsulinResistance #DrLilyJohnston #WomenInMedicine #PreventiveMedicine #PADPrevention #HeartAttackRisks #HealthPortfolio #California #SanDiego #Arizona #Virginia #Minnesota #diabetes

Which blood tests should you get? Most people get “standard labs” every year—but those basic tests often miss the early signs of heart disease, insulin resistance, kidney damage, and metabolic dysfunction.

In this video, vascular surgeon and metabolic health specialist Dr. Lily Johnston breaks down the essential lab tests every patient should know—PLUS the advanced labs she orders in her prevention-focused practice to detect problems before they lead to heart attack, stroke, dementia, kidney failure, or amputations.

Standard Labs You Already Get:
✅ Complete Blood Count (CBC)
✅ Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
✅ Lipid Panel (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL)

Advanced Labs That Actually Move the Needle:
✅ Fasting insulin – early marker of insulin resistance
✅ Lipoprotein(a) / Lp(a) – genetic cardiovascular risk
✅ hs-CRP – inflammation and plaque formation
✅ Homocysteine – B-vitamin metabolism & stroke risk
✅ Microalbumin/creatinine ratio – kidney damage from diabetes or hypertension
✅ Vitamin D 
✅ Uric acid – gout, blood pressure, vascular inflammation

If you haven’t seen your primary care doctor in a while, it’s a great time to get updated labs—and ask about these tests if you’re concerned about metabolic health, family history, or cardiovascular disease. Get empowered with health information to understand your lab results and overall wellness, guided by a medical expert. 

Want deeper videos on cholesterol testing, metabolic syndrome, fasting insulin, or Lp(a)?
Comment below with what you want next and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

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___________________________
🧬 About Dr. Lily Johnston
  
Dr. Johnston is a double board-certified vascular and general surgeon in San Diego, specializing in metabolic and cardiovascular prevention. She’s the founder of CorSight Health and a passionate advocate for reimagining how medicine approaches chronic disease.
  
#MetabolicHealth #CardiovascularPrevention #HeartHealth #Longevity #InsulinResistance #DrLilyJohnston #womeninmedicine #PreventiveMedicine #HealthPortfolio