Diabetes News
Doctors Encourage Blood Pressure Monitoring Outside of Doctor Visits
BANNOCKBURN, Ill., Nov. 14 (PRNewswire) — Omron Healthcare, Inc. today announced the results of its National Diabetes and Blood Pressure Survey,which identified that nearly 70 percent of respondents who have diabetes alsoreport having high blood pressure. Fortunately, doctors recognize the severity of this problem and its contributing effects on the health of people with diabetes, as more than 60 percent of their doctors encourage monitoring blood pressure outside of doctor visits.
"High blood pressure puts an exorbitant amount of stress on your heart and arteries," said Dr. Michael Roizen, author of "You: The Owners Manual." "When patients are also being taxed by high glucose levels, weight gain and high cholesterol, they face greater risk for heart disease, strokes, memory loss, impotence and even skin wrinkling."
In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, more than 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. The survey also found that glucose levels served as the primary concern for those managing diabetes, with only five percent reporting a concern for high blood pressure.
"While it is critical that people with diabetes pay close attention to their glucose levels, it is concerning that so few are worried about their blood pressure," said Joy Pape, a diabetes educator. "Keeping an eye on blood pressure levels allows people to better assess their habits, enabling them to make changes needed to lower their cholesterol, lose weight and improve their overall cardiovascular health."
Omron's premium products have features that make it easier for consumers to get accurate results quickly and comfortably. For example, the Omron(R) HEM-780 Blood Pressure Monitor offers an expandable ComFit(TM) Cuff with Sigma Technology that fits 97 percent of adults' arms, detects irregular heartbeats and avoids incorrect cuffing, which is essential for accurate measurement.
Aware that the most critical issue surrounding the accuracy of wrist blood pressure monitors is ensuring the monitor is at heart level during measurement, Omron Healthcare also developed the HEM-637, the only Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with Advanced Positioning Sensor (APS). The Omron(R) HEM-637 detects the position of the wrist, and guides the user to place the wrist at heart level by sound and display on the monitor. Users simply wrap the pre-formed cuff around the wrist, press 'start' and once the sensor confirms the cuff is level with the user's heart, and only then, the device will automatically start the measurement.
"Blood pressure is a powerful contributing factor to the health of diabetes patients," said Michelle Misialek, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at Omron Healthcare. "Educating and supporting these patients and providing them with lifestyle-friendly products — that are easy-to-use, comfortable and accurate — are Omron Healthcare's primary interests."
Survey Methodology
Omron Healthcare sponsored an Impulse Research Corp. survey that collected information about the blood pressure of people who have diabetes. The survey was conducted online with a random representative sample of 2,355 U.S. residents. Of these, 242 have type 1 diabetes and 807 have type 2 diabetes. All are members of the CyberPulse(TM) Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel has been carefully selected to closely match U.S. population demographics. Research was conducted in October 2005. The overall sampling error for this survey is +/- 5% at the 95% level of confidence.
About Omron Healthcare, Inc.
Omron Healthcare, Inc. is the North American subsidiary of Omron Healthcare, the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of blood pressure monitors for home use. Omron Healthcare, Inc. also provides products for respiratory ailments, weight management, and thermometry. Omron Healthcare, Inc. is headquartered in Bannockburn, Ill., a northern suburb of Chicago, with offices in Ontario, Canada, servicing Canadian customers. Omron Healthcare is committed to providing advanced, high-quality professional medical and home healthcare products. For more information, visit http://www.omronhealthcare.com .