Every year, the American Heart Association, the NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), and other groups designate February as Heart Health Month in order to raise awareness about heart health. The goal is to motivate Americans to actively prevent heart disease by making lifestyle changes. That way, finally, every month becomes a heart health month.
This year, there’s an added emphasis. It’s called the #OurHearts movement. It encourages people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by making changes together with family and friends. The result is that the home becomes the focus for healthier hearts.
Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the US. That means more than 2,200 Americans die each day of heart disease. Risk factors include:
Having one risk factor is bad enough. Having multiple ones is even worse. Many of the risk factors can be moderated or eliminated by lifestyle changes. However, some go deeper and need the intervention of a physician.
Let’s look at two risk areas where Omron Healthcare products can be effective.
Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure. Furthermore, many don’t even know it.
According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure can lead to:
There is good news. By making lifestyle changes, and with proper treatment and management, it is possible to control blood pressure for long and healthy lives. Changes include daily blood pressure monitoring.
Physicians as well as the American Heart Association recommend home blood pressure monitoring “for all people with high blood pressure to help the healthcare provider determine whether treatments are working.”
Home monitoring tracks changes that can occur throughout the day as well as over time. Omron blood pressure monitors are very accurate and designed for use at home. Models include upper arm- and wrist-based systems. Some even incorporate Bluetooth.
The easiest way to increase activity is to walk. Walking also helps decrease stress, which is another risk factor for heart disease and high blood pressure. Omron pedometers accurately count steps. And they don’t have to be positioned in a particular place on the body, so they are more comfortable to use.
An Omron body composition scale measures and tracks a variety of metrics. These can include weight, body fat percentage, visceral fat, skeletal muscle percentages, resting metabolism, and BMI (Body Mass Index). Some scales even include a built-in hand grip for full body sensing. Consequently, body composition scales provide visible proof—and encouragement—that increased activity is making a positive impact.
As we age, sometimes increasing activity means increased tenderness and pain. An Omron TENS unit can help. These small, portable devices can provide drug-free pain relief for sore, stiff, or aching muscles in the lower back, shoulder, arm, leg, and more. That way pain won’t derail the need to exercise.
Omron Healthcare is more than just products. The company itself is on a mission to eliminate cardiac events with its Going for Zero program: “However, to achieve it, behavior change is essential. That’s why we offer reliable blood pressure monitors to fit the needs of every one of the 103 million people in the U.S. that have high blood pressure! Now, besides knowing your blood pressure numbers, you and your healthcare provider can act on them to take control by optimizing treatment and achieving better health outcomes.”
Randy Kellogg, the company’s CEO, sums up Omron Healthcare’s mission:
“We are designing a future free of heart attack and stroke by dramatically evolving the way people connect with their heart health.”
Based on this kind of corporate foundational stance, therefore it’s no surprise that Omron is the Number 1 doctor and pharmacist recommended brand of blood pressure monitors. As a result, you can confidently assure your customers that Omron products are an excellent choice for their health monitoring needs.
Behavior at home lies at the heart of where changes must be made. Omron products, available through Petra Industries, are consumer-friendly and specifically designed for use in the home.
As a retailer who carries healthcare products, be sure to build on all the upcoming publicity surrounding American Heart Month. Encourage your customers to make those lifestyle changes. Offer special promotions and in-store demos. And be sure to check out specially designed fact sheets for in-store use. Similarly, incorporate some of these social media resources in your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
For more information about February as American Heart Month, visit the NHLBI, Healthfinder.gov, and the American Heart Association.
With your help and encouragement, #OurHearts will beat stronger and longer than ever. Make every month Heart Health Month with Omron.