Medical Direct Care | Tennessee Cardiometabolic Testing

Cardiometabolic Testing

Medical Direct Care is a family medical clinic that provides comprehensive cardiometabolic testing services for patients in Clarksville and other surrounding areas in the state of Tennessee. This total health and wellness center is expertly led by Dr. Gregory Fryer. He and his healthcare team specialize in functional and holistic medicine.

Find out what cardiometabolic testing is and why it is essential to the well-being of individuals and families. Discover who should take the cardiometabolic panel. Learn the key components and other basic information on Medical Direct Care’s cardiometabolic testing.

cardiometabolic testing clarksville tn

What Is Cardiometabolic Testing?

Cardiometabolic testing is an advanced medical test that analyzes the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. It also evaluates the metabolic factors that are related to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

It helps assess the susceptibility of a patient to cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems diseases, based on body systems responses.

Why Is Cardiometabolic Testing Needed?

Cardiometabolic panels can effectively appraise the risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and some neurologic processes for each person tested.

As a result, cardiometabolic testing enables doctors and healthcare professionals to determine when professional guidance, healthcare education, or medical treatment is advisable. It can also empower patients to make informed health decisions based on their current physical condition as revealed by cardiometabolic panels.

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Cholesterol

Why the Cholesterol Check Isn’t Enough

Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person dies every 36 seconds from CVD.

Basic cholesterol tests alone are not enough to evaluate the risk of CVD and ASCVD. Cardiometabolic testing is a better alternative because it is more efficient at detecting indicators of ASCVD, type II diabetes, and inflammation.

Cholesterol tests only focus on traditional levels of lipoprotein cholesterol and serum total lipids, which just offer a partial picture of a patient’s physical condition. Cardiometabolic panels are more advanced because they measure the levels of atherogenic apolipoprotein B which contains lipoproteins.

Who Should Take the Cardiometabolic Test?

Cardiometabolic testing is beneficial for all patients. It is particularly suitable for individuals with:

  • Personal history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes
  • Family history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes
  • Metabolic Syndrome or high blood pressure
  • Prescription of cholesterol-lowering medications
  • Obesity or overweight condition
  • High LDL levels
  • Low HDL levels
  • High triglyceride levels

Cardiometabolic testing should be considered by patients who are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Foot pain
  • Difficult or labored breathing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Weakness in lower extremity
  • Fatigue
  • Angina
  • Weakness in upper extremity
  • Diabetes
  • Neck pain radiating
  • Hand/wrist pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Low blood pressure
  • Abnormal walking pattern
  • Excessive Sweating
  • Lack of sweating
  • PTSD
  • Depression or anxiety
  • ADHD
  • Excessive thirst
  • Numbness in legs
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Thyroid disorder
  • Lower extremity pain
  • Low blood pressure
  • Immune disorder
  • Numbness in upper extremity
  • Vertigo or dizziness
  • Renal failure
  • Low back pain radiating
  • Fainting or passing out
  • Sleep disorder
  • Upper extremity pain
  • Recurring headaches or migraines
  • Morbid obesity
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Bipolar
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Information Regarding Our Specialized Testing

Medical Direct Care performs cardiometabolic testing for patients in the state of Tennessee. It is a series of simple, painless tests which assess the autonomic nervous system and circulatory system of individuals. 

The following tests are part of our cardiometabolic testing at Medical Direct Care:

Homeostatic Autonomic Functioning

Homeostatic autonomic functioning refers to the maintenance of the internal homeostatis by the autonomic nervous system. It may be tested to confirm if it properly regulates the thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, exocrine, genitourinary, and pupillary functions.

Skin Microcirculation Functioning

Skin microcirculation is the branching network of microvessels of the cardiovascular system. The microvessels transfer heat, nutrients, water, hormones, and respiratory gases between the blood and tissues in the body. Testing ensures that the skin microcirculation is working correctly.

Cholinergic Sympathetic Functioning

The sympathetic cholinergic function is tested by inducing the axon reflex mediated sweating. The thermoregulatory sweat test measures the sudomotor function.

Autonomic Nervous System Functioning

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for managing the unconscious physiologic processes of a person. ANS testing typically evaluates the three aspects of the ANS function: cardiovagal function, vasomotor adrenergic function, and sudomotor function or sweat testing.

Adrenergic Functioning

The peripheral adrenergic function is connected to blood pressure recovery and heart period response. Adrenergic function tests can assess the heart period response to blood pressure change. They can also check the blood pressure recovery time in response to the pressure drop caused by the Valsalva maneuver.

Cardiac Autonomic Nerve Functioning

Cardiac autonomic nerves manage the heart rate control and vascular dynamics. The integrity and function of cardiac autonomic nerves may be analyzed via testing.

Endothelial Functioning

The endothelial function is the ability of the endothelium to manage blood pressure and to regulate hemostatis. It may be tested by evaluating the blood flow through the arteries.

Arterial Pliability/Stiffness

Arterial pliability and stiffness are indicators of coronary artery disease. The arterial stiffness index (ASI) may be measured via tests.

Small Fiber Nerve Functioning

The small fiber nerves in the skin transmit sensory information about temperature and pain. The fibers in the organs also handle automatic functions like breathing and heart rate. Small fiber nerves may be examined to figure out if they are working properly.

Parasympathetic Functioning

The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) handles the bodily functions of an individual who is at rest. It is associated with digestion, salivation, urination, excretion, and eye lubrication. PSNS testing analyzes the efficiency of the functions of the PSNS.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure enables the blood to flow around the circulatory system to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Testing is necessary to confirm if the blood pressure of a person is classified as normal, elevated, hypertension stage 1, hypertension stage 2, or a hypertensive crisis.

Contact Medical Direct Care To Undergo Cardiometabolic Testing

Take concrete steps to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and other cardiometabolic diseases. Call Medical Direct Care at (931) 221-0902 or send us a message today to schedule cardiometabolic testing at Clarksville and other areas in Tennessee.

FAQs

What are cardiometabolic diseases?

Cardiometabolic diseases refer to a group of common yet preventable health issues. According to the University of Edinburgh, some popular examples of cardiometabolic diseases are heart attack, diabetes, stroke, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

How is cardiometabolic risk measured?

Cardiometabolic risk is measured through an advanced medical test called cardiometabolic testing or panels.

What are cardiometabolic biomarkers?

Cardiometabolic biomarkers are used to compute the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity lists down the main cardiometabolic biomarkers: waist circumference, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL ratio, fasting plasma glucose, and 2-h plasma glucose.

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