Balanced - 4. Longevity risk profile & priorities
Bringing it all together
You’ve put in the effort, invested your hard earned money and now you’re ready to take action.
First off, pat yourself on the back! You have taken direct actions that will positively impact your healthspan. We’re sure that feels pretty darn good!
Now is time to gather all of the results you’ve created so far. Your family health history and the Siteman Cancer Center web tool and your genetic data. Right now, you stand in a position of empowerment on your longevity journey.
You’ve also demonstrated one of the most important aspects of a longevity mindset by being proactive. You can now see that disease does not have to be your destiny. Because you are now in a position to take clear, direct action.
This action will form the foundation of your longevity strategy, which will help you live your longest, healthiest life.
Looking for overlap
Your first action is to review your three sources of information (family health history, web tool, DNA reports) and look for areas in which you have risk overlap.
This means, that you see similar risk results across two or more seperate sources of information.
Here are a few examples:
Family history of eye heath, specifically retinal health issues. Genetic reports flagging ‘high risk’ for eye health. This means that focusing on eye health is a longevity priority. (2 of 3 sources of information)
Family history of heart attack. Siteman web tool results indicate elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Genetic results reveal additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Focusing on cardiovascular health is a longevity priority. (3 of 3 sources of information)
Family history of type 2 diabetes. Siteman web tool doesn’t suggest there is elevated risk (yet) due to age or moderately healthy lifestyle factors. Genetic results however show elevated risk for type 2 diabetes. Focusing on metabolic health is a longevity priority. (2 of 3 sources of information)
In general, if you see overlap between three sources of information. You know you’ve identified a clear longevity priority.
If you don’t have overlap between three sources of information, but see overlap between two sources of information. You’ve still identified a potential longevity priority.
Setting 2-3 priority areas
We know you’ve wrestled through a lot of information. You’ve likely even felt overwhelmed at times (maybe even right now!).
It is particularly overwhelming to see all of the ‘risk’ areas that your genetic reports have revealed. It is not uncommon to have 5-10 (or more) areas of elevated risk in these reports.
Remember that disease is not your destiny, and that genetic reports do not tell your future. They can only help you understand potential risks. It is you lifestyle choices that largely determine whether or not these risks will eventuate.
Take heart, and focus in. The point here is to create actionable insights. We suggest that you choose only 2 to 3 areas to set as your initial priorities.
We also suggest that you only consider a topic area a true priority if you see it flagged as elevated risk in at least two of the three sources of information.
By choosing 2-3 areas of elevated longevity risk, you can begin to take clear action to reduce your risk. That’s longevity risk management.
Taking action begins by changing the lifestyle factors which are directly related to the risks you have. It then follows that you’ll leverage the longevity technologies best suited to managing your risk. All of that is coming next.
For now, well done! You’re now aware of your top ongevity priorities and ready to take action.
