Take small steps for a stronger heart

As we celebrate Heart Month and Valentine's Day in February, it's the perfect time to show your heart some love. Small steps can lead to a stronger, healthier heart.

Your cardiovascular system is vital, delivering nutrients, oxygen and other essential substances to ensure all body systems work effectively. While heart disease is a common concern in Canada, reducing the risks is largely within your control. Simple, preventive actions can make a big difference in keeping your heart healthy and strong.

Heart disease in Canada

Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, following cancer.  According to estimates from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS), about 2.6 million Canadians over the age of 20 live with heart disease. The condition impacts men and women differently, with men being twice as likely to experience a heart attack as women.

Fortunately, the number of new cases has started to decline in recent years. This decline is largely attributed to the early detection and management of conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, which helped reduce the risk of heart disease.

Despite its decreasing incidence in the general population, heart disease is rising among younger people. That’s why it’s so important to look after your heart health, with regular check-ups to spot potential issues early.

Take control of your health

Nine out of ten Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The good news is that nearly 80 per cent of this risk is preventable. 

Adopting healthy habits, such as eating a balanced diet, staying active, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight, can significantly reduce your chances of developing heart disease and its complications.

But factors like genetics, environment and medical conditions can also influence this risk. This is why TELUS Health’s Precision Health service, available in Calgary, Alberta, takes a personalized approach to preventive care, combining cutting-edge technology with extensive data analysis to provide a holistic view of your health. 

Dr. Tracy Thomson, Medical Director of the TELUS Health Care Centre, explains:

“Our innovative program integrates genetic factors with real-time data from wearables, tracking heart rate variability, stress, sleep and activity. We enhance this with state-of-the-art preventive health technology, including advanced imaging, comprehensive blood work, body composition scans and cardiorespiratory fitness assessments.

This wealth of unique health data enables risk identification, and allows our nurse practitioners and health coaches to develop personalized action plans for each individual. Shareable with other healthcare providers, this data empowers our clients to actively improve their cardiovascular health. 

Knowledge drives progress—through yearly comparisons, Precision Health helps individuals track their health journey, guided by the latest science and medical expertise.”

Precision Health offers three tailored assessments to meet your specific health goals: Longevity, Heart Health and Performance. These assessments establish important baselines for individuals to build and improve upon and come combined with personalized insights and recommended actions. 

Focussing on heart health

Genetics and lifestyle habits play a significant role in your heart’s health. Our Heart Health assessment is designed to support you in managing and optimizing these factors, helping you thrive in all aspects of life.

What’s included:

• Oura ring rental: wearable health device that tracks sleep, physical and lifestyle data
• Medical intake and mental health assessment: questionnaires are delivered digitally to optimize in-person time and experience
• Body composition analysis (DEXA): detailed scan that measures muscle mass and body fat percentage
• Proactive genetic screen (cardio focused): assesses hereditary heart disease risk
• VO2 max: measures oxygen use during exercise to assess cardiovascular fitness
• Over 70 advanced labs: blood and urine samples are collected to measure a variety of health markers
• Cardiovascular risk score: calculates risk using  millions of data points across diet, lifestyle, mental wellbeing and physical health, providing scores benchmarked against population norms as well as personalized lifestyle recommendations to help improve these risk scores
• Results review and action plan: review your results dashboard with a nurse practitioner and create a health optimization plan alongside your health coach

Your heart, your health

Discover more about your health than you ever thought possible. Our pioneering technology thoroughly analyzes your data to reveal insights into your current and potential health status. With personalized reports and actionable insights, we help you improve your wellbeing and achieve your health goals. 

Enjoy 10 per cent off when you book your Heart Health assessment with Precision Health in 2025.*

Learn more about Precision Health

To take advantage of this offer, call us today at 1-866-443-1703 or submit a request and our team will reach out within two business days.

Explore your benefits plan coverage

You may be eligible for reimbursement through your health insurance or employer benefits, such as a Health Spending Account and/or Wellbeing Account

For any balance not covered through your insurance, this amount may be tax-deductible as a medical expense when filing your income taxes, depending on the services rendered.

*Pricing discounts are associated with the allied health components of the program and are unrelated to any physician services. The Precision Health assessment must be booked and completed in 2025 during the promotional period; February 4, 2025, to December 20, 2025, at 11:59pm EST. Precision Health is only offered at our Care Centre located in Calgary at TELUS Sky. This offer does not apply to bookings made before or after the promotional period. Eligibility may vary based on an individual's contraindications. Please speak to our team about eligibility before booking.