Test Your Cardiovascular Health in 12 Seconds

Oksijen / July 2025

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death both worldwide and in Türkiye. Infinity Regenerative Clinic Medical Director Dr. Yıldıray Tanrıver, a specialist physician, explains developments in this field, from tests that measure vascular health in 12 seconds to AI-assisted early diagnosis systems.

What are the main causes of cardiovascular diseases?

There is a topic we come across a lot these days: longevity, or living a long life. But one point is sometimes missed: what matters is not just living long, but living long and healthily. If you look at the areas longevity affects, it is possible to prevent or postpone "major diseases" such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's. Cardiovascular diseases are still among the leading causes of death both worldwide and in Türkiye. In fact, 40% of deaths in Türkiye fall into this group. This includes conditions such as heart failure, heart attacks and hardening of the arteries. Another critical topic is diabetes, because these diseases are interconnected: diabetes and cardiovascular disease progress together. Diabetes figures for Türkiye are striking: approximately 15% of the adult population, or 12 million people, have diabetes. Moreover, the rise in its prevalence is three times the world average and four times the European average.

Do genetics or environmental factors weigh more?

Genetic factors are not as decisive as commonly believed. What really matters is epigenetics, the external factors that affect our genes, and lifestyle comes first among them. Proper, personalised nutrition is very important. What we always emphasise is this: personalised health management is essential. A diet that works well for me may not suit you. Intermittent fasting, for example, is something we often recommend, but it may not work for everyone. That is why we build personalised nutrition profiles using microbiota tests and stool analysis, because everyone's gut flora, needs and tolerances are different. An example: our body contains 30 trillion human cells, but 40 trillion microorganisms. They must live in balance. When that balance is disrupted, a process begins that runs from gas and nervous system disorders to obesity and then diabetes.

Which conditions do you encounter most often in your clinical practice?

The two conditions we see most often in our clinic are insulin resistance and/or diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. We now use technology and artificial intelligence intensively in these areas. For example, we can measure the walls of the arteries; the carotid artery is particularly important to us. A thickening wall is generally an alarm. This thickness can increase in people with diabetes, those who have had COVID, those with a poor diet and those with an unhealthy lipid profile, which in turn makes cardiovascular diseases more common.

How do technology and artificial intelligence come into play?

We can now use very advanced screening methods and 3D imaging. We can measure fat accumulation and loss of elasticity in organs. One of the most important tools for assessing the risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease is AGE measurement. AGEs, or Advanced Glycation End Products, result from excessive contact between sugar and cells in the body, particularly proteins and fats. I call this "caramelisation". Your cells and blood vessels can become sticky, almost like a paste. It is possible to measure this process quickly and painlessly with devices such as the AGE Reader, which is a great opportunity for early intervention.

What exactly does this caramelisation do?

It can cause blood vessels to become blocked or their walls to thicken. We can see this very clearly under the skin, so we take our measurements through the skin, where there is a reflection. With a method called autofluorescence, the level of caramelisation can be determined in just 12 seconds, and this shows us the person's risk of cardiovascular disease. The device we use is very easy to apply: you place your arm on the device and it emits ultraviolet light. This light reveals the damage caused by AGE (Advanced Glycation End Products) under the skin. Taking factors such as skin tone and age into account, artificial intelligence precisely calculates the person's level of caramelisation. The whole process takes only 12 seconds.

How do these systems perform compared with classical diagnostic methods?

It is very difficult to identify risks this early and this quickly with classical methods. Most of the time, a disease is noticed only once it has progressed. The systems we use come into play one, two or three steps before the disease develops. In a stool test, for example, certain bacteria that can protect us against cancer are detected. If these bacteria are scarce, we recommend a lifestyle that nourishes them. It is hard to eliminate bad bacteria, but it is possible to keep the balance by increasing the good ones.

Source: Oksijen