Most people have a general idea of how fit they are. But it's more difficult to pinpoint an underlying health issue or understand how your body performs under stress. At Vanderbilt's Executive Health Physicals, exercise physiologist Zafer Karabulut, PhD, helps high-performing professionals answer that question with an advanced treadmill test that goes far beyond the basics.
“This is not just about fitness,” Karabulut says. “It’s about understanding how your heart, lungs and muscles work together under pressure—and how that information can help guide your health strategy.”
The test, called an exercise treadmill test (ETT), is a core part of Vanderbilt’s program. Patients begin walking and eventually running on a treadmill while wearing specialized monitoring equipment. The test tracks heart rate, breathing efficiency and workload capacity, allowing calculation of the V02 max.
After the treadmill portion, patients also undergo strength, flexibility and muscular endurance assessments. Karabulut includes a full body composition analysis, measuring visceral fat, subcutaneous fat and other key health indicators. The results of these exams are combined to create a clear picture of each patient’s health.
“We're looking at the efficiency of the entire cardiorespiratory system,” Karabulut explains. “As patients complete the exercise, we evaluate them as poor, fair, average, good or excellent in several categories. Then we sit down and have honest conversations about the results and how to improve them.”
What sets this test apart is the depth and precision of the data. Karabulut spends a full hour with each patient, identifying potential cardiovascular risks, breathing issues or even subtle signs that may impact longevity.
Each participant receives a detailed report and a one-on-one consultation to review the findings and develop a personalized health plan. That might include fitness goals, changes to their workout routine or a referral to a specialist.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to show someone how small lifestyle changes can lead to measurable improvements,” he says. “We also ensure that patients aren't at risk for something serious, like sudden cardiac death or a major medical event.”
Earlier this year, Karabulut identified a hidden heart issue in a patient—before the treadmill test even began. “I always review the echocardiogram (EKG) beforehand to screen for major heart problems,” he says. “In this case, the EKG showed signs of multiple past heart attacks.” The patient had never experienced typical heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath.
“He had no idea,” Karabulut recalls. “And it wasn’t just one heart attack—it was several, in different areas of the heart.”
Thanks to the early detection, Karabulut referred him to a cardiologist, who confirmed the diagnosis and performed a life-saving cardiac catheterization and bypass surgery.
“A typical primary care visit doesn’t go this deep,” Karabulut says. “Even among other executive health programs across the country, what we do here is truly comprehensive. I'm very proud of what we offer.”
For more information on how to put Executive Health Physicals to work for your company, call (615) 343–1163.
