Manage your heart health on-line

November 4, 7:26 PMHealth ExaminerAngela Spears

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Track heart disease risk factors on-line.
 

The American Heart Association has a free on-line resource – Heart360 – which helps you manage your heart health. This innovative new cardiovascular wellness center allows users to enter such vital statistics as blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose numbers, weight, physical activities and medication history. Overtime users will create an invaluable profile of their health.

To set up an account simply go to Heart360.org. Entries are stored on-line in a secure, password-protected system to be charted, compared and updated. Powered by Microsoft HealthVault, Heart360 has the ability to track a broader range of heart disease risk factors, while providing guidance and information. In the future Heart360 will expand so health care providers can access a patient's information and communicate with patients about their progress.

"Statistics show millions of people are turning to the Internet for health information," said Dr. Tim Gardner, president of the American Heart Association and medical director of the Center for Heart and Vascular Health at the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware. "With Heart360, patients and their families can easily track their risk factors and get quick access to the most credible source of on-line heart and stroke information."

Features of the site include:

· Guidance & Goals:
Shows the recommended ranges for blood pressure, cholesterol and other types of data. In some cases, a user will receive links and additional information to share with their doctor

· Multiple user accounts:
Users can manage their families' health with several user accounts. This is ideal for parents and/or caregivers

· Connect your devices:
Heart360 is compatible with many home blood pressure monitors. Look for the "Works with HealthVault" logo

· Notices:
A user will receive a message when their information is in a range that signals they should consult with their health care provider

· Progress reports:
Users can easily prepare reports on their data. These reports can be printed and e-mailed

· Resources:
As information is entered over time, a user will receive timely links to useful information tailored to their individual needs.

Heart360 is an effective way to store and update health information in one location, so that it’s always organized and available on-line. With a more complete picture of your family’s health, you can work with health care professionals to make informed decisions.