3 guides

Screening & prevention

Which checks are recommended at which age, and how to prepare so the result means something.

Tomas OttersenEditor responsible for bloodwork and screening

Tests and markers

Is 130/85 Blood Pressure High, or Just Elevated?

A systolic reading of 130 looks like it could go either way. The diastolic reading of 85 is what actually decides the category — and under the guideline most US clinics use, it decides in the less comfortable direction.

Strong evidence18 Sept 2026

Explainers

Do You Need to Fast Before a Cholesterol Test?

Fasting used to be a hard rule for any lipid panel. It has quietly stopped being one for most people — but the reason it survives for some tests and disappears for others is worth understanding before your next blood draw.

Moderate evidence18 Sept 2026

What Health Screenings Should You Actually Get in Your 30s and 40s?

Every clinic hands out an age chart of recommended checkups. Fewer explain that some rows on that chart carry a task force's strongest grade, and other rows were never formally recommended for the general population at all.

Strong evidence18 Sept 2026