Heart
Health
What this training covers
- What the four heart-health biomarkers measure
- How to explain cholesterol results clearly
- Which customer conversations this test may suit
- Useful questions for pharmacy staff to ask
- When General Health may provide a broader assessment
- When testing should not delay medical assessment
About this test
The KnowYou+ Heart Health Test measures 4 key cholesterol and blood-fat markers: Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides.
Together, these measurements provide an overview of lipid levels commonly considered when looking at cardiovascular health and risk.
The test may suit customers who want to keep track of their cholesterol, take a proactive approach to cardiovascular wellbeing or better understand how lifestyle may be affecting their heart health.
Results should be considered alongside age, blood pressure, smoking status, family history, medical conditions and other relevant cardiovascular risk factors.
The test provides measurements and health insight; it does not constitute a diagnosis or a complete cardiovascular risk assessment.
What do the four biomarkers measure?
Total Cholesterol
Measures the overall amount of cholesterol in the blood, including cholesterol carried by different lipoproteins.
HDL Cholesterol
Measures high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. HDL helps transport cholesterol away from tissues and back towards the liver.
LDL Cholesterol
Measures low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Higher LDL levels can be associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Triglycerides
Measures a type of fat circulating in the blood. Triglyceride levels can be influenced by diet, alcohol, metabolic health and other factors.
Who might this test be suitable for?
Monitoring cholesterol
A customer wants an up-to-date view of their cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Proactive heart health
They feel well but want to take a more proactive approach to understanding selected cardiovascular health markers.
Lifestyle changes
They have made changes to diet, weight, exercise or lifestyle and want to understand their current lipid measurements.
Previous cholesterol result
They have previously been told their cholesterol or triglycerides were outside the expected range and want a current measurement.
4 useful questions to ask
These questions help determine whether the Heart Health Test is the most relevant KnowYou+ option and identify customers who may benefit from broader cardiovascular assessment or medical follow-up.
How to explain the Heart Health Test to the customer
Explain that the test measures Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides.
These markers are commonly used as part of assessing cardiovascular health, but they are only one part of the overall picture.
Factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, age, family history, weight and existing medical conditions also contribute to cardiovascular risk.
The result should therefore not be described as giving someone a definitive “heart disease risk score” or confirming that their heart is healthy.
Could another KnowYou+ test provide more relevant information?
| Customer wants to understand… | Test to consider |
|---|---|
| Cholesterol and blood-fat markers specifically | Heart Health |
| A broader health overview including cholesterol, liver, kidney and other markers | General Health |
| Longer-term blood glucose control | Diabetes Test (HbA1c) |
| Persistent tiredness with blood and iron markers | Fatigue & Tiredness |
Important to remember
A Heart Health Test result is not a diagnosis.
Cholesterol results are only one part of cardiovascular risk assessment.
Results should be interpreted alongside other factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, family history and existing cardiovascular disease.
Pharmacy staff should avoid telling a customer they have cardiovascular disease, blocked arteries or a specific level of future cardiovascular risk based on these four results alone.
When testing should not delay medical assessment
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness
- New or severe breathlessness
- Fainting or collapse
- Sudden weakness or numbness, particularly on one side
- Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Rapidly worsening or otherwise concerning symptoms
Acute or concerning cardiovascular symptoms require appropriate medical assessment rather than an at-home cholesterol test.
Want more detail?
The full Pharmacist Training Manual will include additional cholesterol guidance, customer cues, cardiovascular risk context, test comparisons, common questions and expanded referral guidance.