Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in Canada. According to the Center for Disease Control, preventable heart disease and strokes now effect more younger people (<65 years) than older people (>65 years). Once thought to be a “man’s disease”, heart attacks and strokes kill more women each year than the next four causes of death combined. For those lucky enough to survive a heart attack or stroke, they may be left with symptoms or disabilities that prevent them from returning to work or enjoying their favourite activities.
At Connect Health we believe in prevention and early detection. We do not want to wait until after your first heart attack or stroke to begin to take your Cardiovascular health seriously. Collaborating with the innovative Cleveland HeartLab, Connect Health has created custom panels of cardiovascular tests to help identify early signs of risk for our patients. Our test assesses:
- Advanced lipoprotein profiles
- Vascular inflammatory markers
- Endothelial function biomarkers
- ApoE + MTHFR genetics
- Omega-3 profile
The health of your GI system can impact almost every other system in your body. The human body is full of microorganisms. The majority of those microbes living on or within the body are beneficial, and without them we would not be able to live long and healthy lives. The gut microbiome in particular plays a critical role in mediating the effects of diet and other factors on health, including digestive, immune, metabolic and neuroendocrine functions. When the gut microbiome gets imbalanced (dysbiosis), individuals can have short term and long term negative effects on their health. Connect Health has several different tests for gastrointestinal health that look at:
- Microbiome
- Pathogens
- Fungus
- Viruses
- Parasites
- Digestive Markers
- Gut inflammatory markers
- Intestinal permeability (Leaky Gut and Zonulin)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) testing:
SIBO is a condition where bacteria enter your normally sterile small intestine and begin to colonize. Studies have indicated that potentially up to 80% of patients with IBS may in fact have SIBO. Common symptoms of SIBO include nausea, flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, malnutrition, fatigue, acid reflux, rosacea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and fibromyalgia. Connect Health offers SIBO testing when indicated.
Virtually all metabolic and developmental processes that take place in the body require micronutrients, and strong evidence suggests that subtle vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant deficiencies can contribute to degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Evaluating micronutrient status can therefore be the first step in identifying metabolic inadequacies while shedding light on the possible underlying causes of complex chronic conditions. Nutrient testing allows your clinician to tailor your diet and supplementation plan exactly to your individual requirements so you can meet your personal health goals. Tests may include:
- Micronutrients: amino acids, vitamins, minerals
- Fatty acid profiles: (Omega 3s, 6s, monounsaturated
and saturated fats) - Oxidative stress biomarkers
- Energy metabolism/mitochondrial biomarkers
- Detoxification biomarkers
- Organic Acids
Hormones guide and regulate all body functions, and every hormone affects one or more other hormones. Balance is the key, and balance is not always easily achieved. Hormones can be influenced by many external and internal factors. Some examples include hormonal birth control, stress, gut dysbiosis, environmental toxins, stress, and sleep dysregulation. Hormones also decline, naturally, as people age. With lifespans increasing all the time, the number of years that people may be living with sub-optimal hormone levels is also increasing. This can dramatically affect their quality life for decades. Hormone replacement therapy is becoming more common and provides renewed vitality for thousands, but the way a person metabolizes their hormones can also increase (or decrease) their risk for cancer or other serious diseases. Hormone testing can help to better understand this complex, intricate, vital body system. It can give valuable insights to what is truly going on in an individual's body and may indicate the underlying cause of symptoms. These results allow us to create a tailored treatment plan to alleviate symptoms and cultivate an enhanced level of health.
Hormones tested:
- Sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) and their metabolites
- Adrenal hormones (cortisol) and its metabolites
- Melatonin
Symptoms of hormone imbalances:
- Menstrual irregularities
- PMS
- Difficult, painful, or heavy periods
- Decreased libido
- Digestive problems such as irritable bowel, bloating, or acid reflux
- Headaches or menstrual migraines
- Acne, skin issues
- Poor sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, insomnia
- Weight gain and an increase in food cravings
- Brain fog, decreased/impaired memory and attention
- Mood swings- irritability, low mood, or anxiety
Other reasons to evaluate and balance your hormones:
- Fertility and pre-conception planning
- Menopause transition
Our environment (our homes, places of work, communities) may hold opportunity for exposure to harmful substances such as toxic metals & elements, chemicals, and molds. Chronic low-level toxic exposure is common and can lead to retention of harmful substances in your tissues, causing adverse health effects. At Connect Health, we may test for exposure to:
- Toxic metals & elements
- Chemicals
- Toxic molds
Your Clinician will then use those results to guide detoxification treatment plans.
Numerous studies been done in the past decade looking at how diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposures can impact longevity. There are new tests that can identify on the cellular and DNA level the “biological age” of an individual. Connect Health has access to tests measuring:
- DNA methylation
- Telomere Length
- Immune system aging
