Routine Checkup Should Include Fitness Tests

A medical checkup usually includes height, weight, blood pressure, and a cholesterol screen, but one expert says healthcare providers should also collect data on cardiorespiratory fitness—a measure of how much work your body can do during exercise. Dr. Benjamin Levine from UT Southwestern Medical Center explains, “This measurement is so important because it shows how the heart, lungs, and muscles all work together, and it should be an element of assessment of heart disease risk along with factors like smoking history, diabetes, and [high blood pressure].” UT Southwestern Medical Center, December 2016