Cardiovascular Assessment Details:

A medical research team headed by Dr. Richard Lewanczuk (MD, PhD), will investigate the cardiovascular health of students in our district (volunteers). This research will include arterial elasticity assessment, blood pressure, insulin resistance and BMI calculation. These procedures are non-invasive (do not involve needles or blood work). This study is the first of its kind in the world and should yield critical information on the cardiovascular health of our youth.

Arterial elasticity is a measure of the flexibility of blood vessels. This procedure is a very good predictor for future cardiovascular health. The insulin resistance test involves students breathing into a special apparatus after drinking a sugar solution. This test analyzes the ability of the body to process sugars. This research protocol (non-invasive insulin resistance testing) was pioneered by the University of Alberta.

The cardiovascular assessment aspect of this study is voluntary.