FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know about Novara.

Questions about Vitality-CMD, Vitality-PeriM, eligibility, and the referral process — answered clearly.

Vitality-CMD

  • No. Vitality-CMD is an evidence-informed lifestyle health programme. It complements but never replaces your medical care. All participants require cardiologist or GP clearance prior to enrolment. Novara operates solely within a lifestyle health scope of practice.

  • Vitality-CMD is purpose-built for women with CMD and INOCA — a population for whom no dedicated lifestyle health programme has existed until now. Cardiac rehab typically targets post-MI and post-surgery patients. Vitality-CMD addresses the specific physiology of microvascular dysfunction, incorporating functional breathing, autonomic regulation, and behaviour change science alongside cardiovascular, sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition modalities.

  • Yes — the 1:1 virtual programme has no fixed start date. Once you register interest, obtain cardiologist or GP clearance, and complete your intake assessment, your programme begins. We follow up within 24 hours of your enquiry and support you through the clearance process.

  • You can still register interest. We require cardiologist or GP clearance before enrolment, and we encourage you to continue working with your medical team toward a formal diagnosis. Contact us to discuss your situation — we are happy to guide you on next steps.

  • Irish participants referred by a cardiologist or GP may be eligible for 20% income tax relief on programme fees under the Health Expenses Relief scheme. This reduces the net cost of the 3-month programme to approximately €1,200. Please consult your tax advisor to confirm eligibility in your specific circumstances.

  • Vitality-CMD includes 9 private 1:1 virtual sessions over 3 months; a baseline health assessment and intake; a fully personalised programme designed around your profile; 8 science-based modalities (functional breathing, cardiovascular health, sleep, stress, movement, nutrition, behaviour change, and hydration); wearable data analysis; direct messaging access between sessions; and Novara community access throughout.

Vitality-PeriM

  • Vitality-PeriM is designed for women aged approximately 40–58 who are in perimenopause, approaching it, or managing ongoing symptoms post-menopause. It is also valuable for women who are not yet symptomatic but want to understand and prepare proactively. The workshop is delivered to organisations — so the buyer is typically an HR Director, Head of People, or Wellbeing Lead.

  • No. Vitality-PeriM is a lifestyle health education programme — not a medical service, clinical treatment, or substitute for medical advice. Participation does not create a therapeutic relationship. We actively encourage all participants to engage with their GP or a menopause specialist for medical management, including HRT assessment. Vitality-PeriM complements, and never replaces, medical care.

  • Most menopause workplace sessions are awareness-based — they explain what perimenopause is and signpost to HR policy. Vitality-PeriM goes significantly further. It is a structured lifestyle health programme grounded in peer-reviewed research, covering eight evidence-based modalities including functional breathing, autonomic regulation, sleep optimisation, stress mastery, cardiovascular health, graduated movement, nutrition, and behaviour change. The facilitator has 15 years of cardiovascular health science experience. This is science-based lifestyle health education delivered at clinical depth — not a wellness talk.

  • The 20-participant cap is a deliberate quality and safety decision — not a logistics constraint. Perimenopause is a deeply personal topic. Women engage more authentically and leave with more practical tools when the room is small and structured as a safe environment. The cap is non-negotiable. Where a company has more than 20 women who'd like to participate, a second workshop can be organised.

  • Full payment is required to confirm your booking and hold the date. We accept SEPA bank transfer (preferred) or credit/debit card payment via Stripe. A 2% processing surcharge applies to card payments above €1,000. Payment must be received and cleared before the booking is confirmed. We are unable to hold dates on the basis of a verbal agreement alone.

  • Cancellation 4+ weeks before delivery: full refund minus a €250 administration fee. Cancellation 1–4 weeks before delivery: 50% of the total contracted fee is retained. Cancellation fewer than 1 week before delivery: 75% of the total fee is retained. Rescheduling can be accommodated once at no charge with at least 4 weeks' notice. Full terms are set out in the Services Agreement issued on booking.

For Healthcare Progressionals

  • Novara provides lifestyle health programmes only. We do not diagnose, treat, or medically manage CMD, INOCA, or any other condition. We do not prescribe or advise patients to alter their medication. We are not a medical service. All Vitality-CMD participants require documented cardiologist or GP clearance, and referring physicians remain the treating clinician throughout the programme.

  • Email ciaran@joinnovara.com with the patient's first name and initial, date of birth, diagnosis, and confirmation of clearance. We will follow up with the patient within 24 hours. The referral takes approximately five minutes and there is no obligation until the patient confirms they wish to proceed.

  • Vitality-CMD is designed with reference to ESC 2024 guidelines and IACR 2025 Irish Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation guidelines. The programme is positioned as Microvascular Lifestyle Rehabilitation — a structured lifestyle health complement to medical management for CMD, INOCA, and ANOCA patients.

  • Yes. Email ciaran@joinnovara.com with the subject "Request Clinician Briefing" and we will send the NVR-MAT-002 Clinician Briefing Document — a 4-page document built to pharma/medtech standard covering programme rationale, evidence base, scope of practice, and referral process.

Note: Novara provides lifestyle health programmes, not medical treatment. Our programmes complement but do not replace medical care. All Vitality-CMD participants require cardiologist or GP clearance. Individual results may vary. If in doubt, contact your medical team.