Most people know that February is the month of love, but did you know it is also American Heart month? Let’s talk about why you should love your heart this month and every month!
The Heart
The human body is full of many organs but there are five specific organs that are considered vital to survive, one of those being the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through the cardiovascular system. While the heart is a vital organ is also can be quickly damaged causing life threatening emergencies.
Each year thousands of people die from heart disease making it the leading cause of death for men and women. According to the CDC, approximately 697,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2020 – that’s 1 in every 5 deaths.1 Although these numbers are concerning many of these diseases are preventable. There are risk factors to be aware of that can help you keep your heart healthy.
Risk Factors
Key risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking. There are several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices that put people at higher risk for heart disease, including: diabetes, overweight and obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.
Living a healthy lifestyle can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal which lowers the risk for heart disease and heart attacks. If you are already struggling with chronic conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes, managing your known chronic conditions can help your heart stay strong. Virtual care can help manage chronic conditions and improve heart health.
Take Control with Virtual Care
As we look at the risk factors above, certain health conditions can increase the risk of heart disease. VitalCare helps patients manage conditions like heart failure, diabetes, COPD, obesity and more. Properly managing chronic conditions is crucial to keep your heart healthy. So, how can virtual care help improve heart
health?
Consistent Care and Communication
Virtual care allows patients to receive quality care when
and where they need it. Patients no longer have to word about finding access to care, transportation issues, or availability. The VitalCare platform gives patients the ability to connect with their health care providers in real time, at their convenience. While in-person visits may still be needed, virtual care can help patients get care sooner which can reduce the need of these in-person emergency visits.
Consistent communication and patient engagement leads to greater health outcomes. VitalCare provides patients with a platform that gives them 24/7 access to their healthcare provider, educational material, medication reminders, and more. Patients can contact their provider through live video or audio calls as well as instant messages. This increased communication gives comfort to patients, helps patients stay informed and encourages patients to take control of their health.
Early Detection
Along with consistent care and communication, early detection of heart related diseases saves lives. VitalCare provides patients with devices they need to better manage their conditions. The collection of data and transmission of this data in real time, can alert healthcare providers of health concerns or complications. These can then be addressed and monitored allowing them to intervene before an emergency visit is needed.
Early detection saves lives by timely intervening before a costly care episode. Accordioning to the CDC, heart disease cost the United States about $229 billion each year.2 People with heart disease spend thousands of dollars each year on health care but virtual care can minimize these costs and prevent the costs of expensive emergency visits.
VitalTech Can Help You!
Managing chronic conditions and protecting your heart health can be made easy with VitalTech! If you are a provider looking to implement a quality virtual care system that is perfect for you and your patients, contact us today!