So I go to Executive Health Exams in downtown Chicago. This is the second time I've been there. The first time I went was in December 2001, several months before I got married. Now, in September 2004, I went again to see “what the damage was” in the last few years. In 2001, I was 29 years old, and this time around I was just shy of my 32nd birthday.
The exam includes a complete urinalysis and blood workup for all sorts of measurements. Hearing and vision testing, an electrocardiogram, bodyfat analysis, spirometry, glaucoma testing, and a lengthy consultation with the doctor are included. It's expensive – $1,250 per exam – but a small price to pay for peace of mind and a headstart in staying out of the hospital for more serious reasons.
The results take a couple of weeks to come back. I am happy to report that my triathlon training has paid off. I have almost identical results this year as I did in 2001, almost 3 years ago. Some of the key results are as follows:
| Test | 2004 | 2001 |
| Blood Pressure | 128/78 | 122/86 |
| Triglycerides | 118 | 77 |
| Total Cholesterol | 152 | 146 |
| HDL Cholesterol | 43 | 42 |
| LDL Cholesterol | 85 | 89 |
| Resting Heart Rate | 53 | 60 |
I am particularly happy with my resting heart rate. When you do a lot of cardio exercise, your heart gets stronger and more efficient. Consequently, a strong heart beats more slowly than a weaker heart because it is more efficient at pushing the blood around your body. My drop from 60 beats per minute in 2001 to 53 beats per minute reflects a much stronger heart. Yay!
The only real downside here is the increase in triglycerides. This is due mainly to me not yet achieving my other goal: losing my excess bodyfat. While my overall cholesterol is stable, I've got to get these triglycerides down before longterm effects begin to show up.
As for the relatively low cholesterol, I thank genetics and lots of cardio and weight training. The week before I went for my physical I had 3 Chipotles, several steaks, and all sorts of not-so-healthy food. For me to still have low cholesterol says a lot about the benefits of intense exercise.
Why am I sharing all of this? Mainly because I could care less if anyone else knows and so my family and friends can read it and know I'm not about to keel over from my crappy diet. I also post it because this weblog is turning into a sort of online diary / journal. If I want to look up these figures again, I just have to go online and there they are.