Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide even though most cases are preventable. To help our local Dallas community, Home Care Assistance is sharing the latest study on how positive text messages can encourage heart-healthy choices as well as some tips to kick-start your own heart-healthy regimen.
The study, published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), explored the benefits of positive mobile notifications, such as text messages, and their effect on lifestyle modifications for disease prevention. The Tobacco, Exercise and Diet Messages trial included 710 participants with coronary heart disease who were, on average, 58-years-old. All participants received regular care while only half were in the interventionist program and received four text messages a week for six months.
The research team looked at low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, known as the ‘bad cholesterol’, as well as systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), physical activity and smoking status. After six months, the team found that LDL-C levels were lower in the intervention group that had received the text messages. This group also had lowered systolic blood pressure and BMI, improved physical activity levels and a significant reduction in smoking levels. Participants in the intervention text message program said the messages were useful, easy to understand and appropriate in frequency.
The Pulse innovation breakfast series in Dallas
Our Dallas, TX home caregivers make a dedicated effort to support research and innovation. For example, The Pulse is a local innovation breakfast series connects entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and innovators from the DFW healthcare and business communities. It puts you at the forefront of healthcare innovation with networking and insight into the latest healthcare startups. On Thursday, June 9 at 7:30 a.m., visit the Health Wildcatters’ HQ and see featured speaker Justin Smith, M.D., the director for Primary Care Innovation at Cook Children’s Health Care System.
Event details:
- June 9, 2016 at 7:30 a.m.
- 211 N Ervay St, Dallas, Texas 75201