An Afternoon That Changed How I Think About Heart Health

By Patrick Jetmark Miruka
Chief Executive Officer, HBC Group Co. Limited

On 18th July 2026, I visited Villa Physio in Karen together with my colleague. We had planned the visit to learn more about the Arteriograph, experience the assessment ourselves and better understand how it could transform preventive cardiovascular healthcare in Kenya.

The visit started on a pleasant note. Villa Physio is nestled in the serene environment of Karen, surrounded by greenery and a calm atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. It is the kind of place where wellness feels intentional, long before you step into a treatment room, and they offer exceptional physiotherapy services.

We were warmly welcomed by Dr. Vincent Osundwa, the proprietor of Villa Physio. What followed was a fascinating discussion about the future of preventive healthcare. Dr. Osundwa shared his vision of making cardiovascular assessment more proactive, helping people understand their health before symptoms appear. We spoke about the growing burden of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle-related conditions, particularly among younger people who often assume they are healthy because they feel well.

Oftentimes, many people spend time looking after their outward appearance, yet very few know the condition of their arteries. Our arteries age quietly, and by the time cardiovascular disease becomes obvious or a stroke happens, changes may have been developing for years.

After our discussion with Dr. Osundwa, we were invited into the treatment room to experience the Arteriograph ourselves.

The setup was surprisingly simple. The assessment required only the Arteriograph device connected to a brachial cuff and a laptop running the analysis software.

Before the test began, the clinician recorded our names, age, medical history and any medication we were taking. My weight and height were then measured before I was asked to lie comfortably on the examination bed and relax for a few moments.

The cuff was wrapped around my upper arm, much like a routine blood pressure check. As the assessment started, it inflated firmly around my biceps before gradually releasing the pressure. Throughout the process, the clinician monitored the readings in real time on the laptop as the software analyzed every pulse wave.

The actual measurement took less than five minutes. From registration to receiving the final report, the entire experience lasted under ten minutes. Within moments, the software generated a detailed cardiovascular assessment that included central blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, arterial stiffness, and vascular age.

The result that immediately caught my attention as a layman was my arterial age.

My colleague and I are almost the same age. We have a similar build and, at first glance, anyone would assume our cardiovascular health is also similar. The Arteriograph told a different story. Our arterial ages were noticeably different.

That moment completely changed my perspective. It reminded me that appearances can be misleading. Two people may look equally healthy on the outside, yet their arteries can tell very different stories. A higher arterial age may indicate stiffer arteries and an increased long-term risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke and other vascular complications if the underlying risk factors are not addressed. Knowing this early provides an opportunity to make lifestyle changes and seek appropriate medical advice before serious complications develop.

Seeing that comparison made the results personal. This was not just another medical report to be kept in my stash of personal documents and forgotten. It became a conversation and an introspection about how we live and how those choices shape our long-term health.

As I reflected on the experience, I began to see the Arteriograph as much more than a diagnostic tool. It is an excellent conversation starter about prevention. It gives people information they can easily relate to, and that information can inspire meaningful lifestyle changes before disease develops.

I also see enormous potential beyond the clinic.

Imagine every executive undergoing an arterial health assessment during an annual medical examination. Imagine corporate wellness programmes where employees not only receive routine blood pressure checks but also gain a clearer understanding of the health of their arteries. Imagine organizations investing in preventive cardiovascular screening as part of their employee wellness strategy, helping identify risk early and encouraging healthier lifestyles.

The same opportunity exists for the wider population. Community health programmes, insurer-sponsored wellness initiatives and annual health screening packages could all benefit from including arterial health assessment. Prevention is always more valuable than managing complications later, both for individuals and for the healthcare system.

As we left Villa Physio that afternoon, I carried home more than a printed report. I left with a renewed appreciation for preventive healthcare and the realization that understanding the health of our arteries may be just as important as knowing our blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

Sometimes, the most valuable medical test is not the one that confirms disease. It is the one that encourages you to make healthier choices while there is still time.

For me, that is what the Arteriograph experience at Villa Physio was all about.