Proactive heart testing - part 3: Enhanced testing for extensive insights

Safeguarding your heart health is one of the most important things you can do to help ensure a long and healthy life.  

In parts one and two of this series, we discuss why proactive testing is important, and what tests are important to complete for an advanced baseline picture of your heart health.

But for those who are looking for deeper insights, perhaps due to family history or other risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol, there are additional tests that can be done. These forward-thinking assessments can give you even more extensive insights into your arterial health and heart function, helping to provide an even more comprehensive view of your risk for cardiovascular disease and events like heart attack and stroke.

At Medcan, the Annual Health Assessment provides a detailed baseline of heart health. If you would like to go beyond the baseline, below we have outlined the enhanced testing you may like to consider.

Enhanced Heart Health Assessment

Our Clinical Director of Cardiology, Dr. Beth Abramson, encourages everyone to complete the heart testing included in the Annual Health Assessment, which is the best practice for establishing the baseline of your your heart health.

When a deeper look at your heart is desired, she also recommends the following tests which are included in our Enhanced Heart Health Assessment. She also often recommends these tests in her capacity as Director of the Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre and Women’s Cardiovascular Health in the Division of Cardiology at St. Michael’s Hospital. 

The carotid intima media thickness test (CIMT) uses sophisticated ultrasound technology and computer software to look at your arteries. It measures the thickness of your arterial walls as well as any amount of plaque buildup to assess if you are at risk for heart attacks or strokes. Most people will not start to notice any symptoms of heart disease until an artery is 70 per cent narrowed – and at that point they are already at imminent risk of a heart attack or stroke. Dr. Abramson says, “The whole idea is to pick this up before a client has symptoms and then we can reduce their risks.”  

An echocardiogram is another test that uses ultrasound to get a complete picture of the anatomy of your heart. It uses sound waves to create images of your heart and can identify size or shape abnormalities, weaknesses in the heart muscle, or valve issues that can increase your risk of heart attack or cardiomyopathy. 

We can also perform a heart function blood test which measures the NT-proBNP hormone (sometimes called the "happy heart hormone") that is released when the heart is under stress. If your levels are in the normal range, that suggests your heart is working well. Elevated levels could indicate stress or dysfunction, and we may recommend follow-up tests. 

Another blood test that we offer is called the trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) test. TMAO is substance that is produced by the liver when you digest food. Higher levels of TMAO can contribute to an accumulation of artery-clogging cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.  

Interpreting your results and what to do next

Once you complete this kind of testing, getting the results and knowing what to do next can be daunting – but you can be supported to take the best steps forward for your health. 

The point is not just understanding your risks, but knowing what you can do about them. Fortunately, it is estimated that nearly 8 out of 10 cases of heart disease can be prevented through healthy behaviours. Knowing your unique risk profile is critical to developing a personalized plan to help you elevate your wellbeing and improve your heart health.

After your Enhanced Heart Health Assessment, we provide you with a focused consultation with our cardiac team who will help you understand exactly what your test results mean for you. They will review your results with you in detail, answer any questions you may have and offer specific heart health recommendations that you can then put into action. Importantly, we take into account the results of your Annual Health Assessment, to look at your heart health in combination with your other biomarkers and results, ensuring your plan is holistic and tailored to your personal needs.

Looking for even more forward-thinking testing? Enter longevity science and genetics

Those who wish to look even further ahead at their risk can turn to longevity science. It pushes the limits of proactive testing by looking at biomarkers that are precursors to risk factors that can develop into more serious risks or disease down the line. These biomarkers can give you the earliest indication of potential heart disease decades before it develops.  

In our Enhanced Longevity Assessment, we look at two additional biomarkers that are associated with inflammation in the arteries and increased risk of cardiovascular issues. The first is lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, an enzyme that is produced by inflammatory cells that primarily binds to cholesterol molecules.  The second biomarker is an enzyme called myeloperoxidase, an enzyme released by white blood cells that is involved in inflammation and oxidative stress.  

These biomarkers, especially when reviewed in combination with other proactive tests in the Enhanced Longevity Assessment, give you an opportunity for very early intervention which can change the course of risk progression. They also help give direction as to where you can fine-tune your wellbeing since many longevity enthusiasts are not only looking to manage risk but optimize their health and vitality today. 

Bringing DNA into the picture: heart health genetic screening 

Whether heart disease runs in your family or you are looking for a more complete picture of your genetic risks, genetic testing can add pieces to the puzzle. As part of our genetic screening services, we offer a targeted Proactive Heart Health Genetic Screening that uses a blood test to analyze 80+ genes related to cardiovascular disease. Knowing your genetic predisposition can help your health team develop the most personalized screening and preventative health plan. You can also share your risk information with family members so they can in turn consider what heart health testing may be best for them. 

Knowledge is power

Knowing your test result numbers is the first – and most crucial – step in a proactive approach to managing your heart health. Armed with both the insights from your Annual Health Assessment and these advanced testing options, you and your health team – like Medcan’s Dedicated Care membership team - can develop a thorough and personalized plan for the best way forward. 

What can a personalized plan look like? It might include medical interventions like medication, ongoing screenings, or minimally-invasive procedures. It will also often include specific guidance for diet, exercise, and stress management that is aligned with your lifestyle and environmental factors, along with your own health goals. A comprehensive strategy that takes into account your unique health blueprint is the ideal approach.

Start today

The more risk factors you have for cardiovascular disease, the more you stand to gain from proactive testing. If you don’t wait for your heart health to become an emergency, you may never have to get to that point. 

When you book your Annual Health Assessment, simply add any of the Enhanced Assessments which can be carried out or initiated during that same visit. Our team is here to help you on your proactive health journey to live well, for life.