Knife Down
"Knife Down" is what a surgeon says in the OR when she puts her scalpel down so no one gets hurt — and it’s the mission here: put the knife down, long before anyone needs to use it.
Knife Down is a podcast about how to actually invest in your health so you can live longer, stronger, and with less time in doctors’ offices. The core focus is the world’s leading cause of death—cardiovascular disease—and what to do about it before it shows up as a catastrophe.
Hosted by a vascular surgeon on a mission to put herself out of business, the show translates cutting-edge science on prevention, metabolic health, and longevity into real-world strategies you can use in clinic or at your kitchen table. Expect evidence, nuance, and zero wellness hype—plus the occasional dark joke about the state of modern medicine.
Knife Down
7 Life-Saving Tests Your Doctor Might Skip!
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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)?
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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.
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