As of 2023, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. With approximately 805,000 heart attacks and 795,000 strokes occurring every year. Cardiovascular disease education, management and prevention must be included with every patient’s treatment plan. Yet on an almost daily basis when we ask new patients what their blood pressure is and how often they measure it – the most common answer is, “I don’t know and I don’t.”
- With approximately 75% of these events happening to a patient for the first time, cardiovascular disease management must begin as early as possible.
Due to the global role the cardiovascular system plays in human health, optimizing cardiovascular health is an absolute must.
At Your Personal Pharmacy every patient receives an individualized and detailed treatment plan and tracker, which includes all the steps our patients need to monitor their cardiovascular health. We take the time, with every single patient, to explain, educate, and coach them regarding the life changing impact cardiovascular disease can have in their lives, how to prevent it, how to prevent progression, and to ensure each patient’s treatment plan is fully optimized for them. Key aspects include:
- Knowing your blood pressure and how often to measure it
- Knowing your blood pressure goal and what the numbers really mean
- In no other disease does the expression “Prevention is the best medicine” ring more true.
- The power of small changes; for example, implementing basic changes such as measuring blood pressure at home, exercising for 60-120 minutes a week, and maintaining healthy weight can help reduce your risk of a cardiac event by 20%.
These simple yet powerful changes can truly change the life of a patient, yet all too often we find the majority of our patients not utilizing these insights into their own health.