Give yourself a squeeze this May Measurement Month

As of 2021, an estimated 1.28 billion people worldwide are recorded to be hypertensive. A 2021 comprehensive global analysis on hypertension revealed that although it is straightforward to diagnose hypertension and relatively easy to treat the condition with low-cost drugs, there remain significant gaps in diagnosis and treatment. In fact, about 580 million people with hypertension are unaware of their condition because they were never diagnosed.

Alarmingly, raised blood pressure remains the number one cause of preventable deaths globally. In the Philippines, hypertension was among the greatest contributors to the highest mortality rate recorded by the country in the past 63 years.

 

Given these statistics, various health organizations across the world continue to work for hypertension awareness and improved management. Among the campaigns with this aim is the May Measurement Month (MMM), an annual movement that encourages people to get their blood pressure checked. 

 

Since 2017, the teams behind MMM have screened more than 4 million people in 100 countries, and have found almost one million participants with untreated hypertension. This year, 85 countries, including the Philippines, will be joining in the observance of May Measurement Month with the theme #THEBIGSQUEEZE.

 

The Big Squeeze in the Philippines

May Measurement Month in the Philippines was kicked off by the Philippine Society of Hypertension on May 17, 2022 – which is also the established World Hypertension Day. MMM 2022 marks the fifth year of the campaign being observed in the country. 

 

MMM will be held from May to September of 2022, with the aim of screening 1 million Filipino adults, providing diet and lifestyle treatment to advice to participants with high normal to hypertensive BP ranges, and gathering significant data on hypertension to motivate the government to improve local screening facilities and contribute to the reduction of the global burden of diseases related to raised BP.

 

“We know that raised blood pressure is the single biggest contributor to the global burden of diseases and global mortality. The number of people affected and the prevalence of high blood pressure worldwide are expected to increase over the next decade. Therefore, preventive strategies are urgently needed, especially in less developed countries like ours,” said Dr. Alejandro F. Diaz, MMM country lead for the Philippines. 

 

“We want to partner with both government and non-government organizations to combat this cardiovascular disease. So, we have formed a hypertension alliance for this purpose, to continue to push for awareness, prevention and treatment of hypertension,” said PSH President Dr. Deborah Ona.

 

Partners for The Big Squeeze

 

 

The Department of Health expressed its support to the MMM through Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Ho, who gave a message during the program on May 17. Moreover, the Quezon City local government also stood in solidarity with PSH and its cause. During the kick-off ceremonies, Mayor Joy Bemonte participated in the ceremonial blood pressure measurement at Quezon City Hall. Mayor Belmonte shared that since January 2022, the city has recorded nearly 6,500 citizens with hypertension, 2,970 of whom also have diabetes. Given this, the city targets 150,000 QC residents to be aware of their blood pressure so that they can be given proper medication and due assistance by the government.

 

Also joining in the advocacy is OMRON’s Healthcare business in the Philippines. OMRON, which has been a staunch supporter of MMM since 2017, hosted the streaming of the 2022 kick-off program via its official social media channels. OMRON hasalso been putting efforts into enhancing the awareness levels on the benefits of home BP monitoring by providing free checkups in pharmacies and densely populated areas across the country. 

 

“OMRON Healthcare is one with the Philippine Society of Hypertension and all of the partners for the May Measurement Month in aiming to decrease the prevalence and ease the burden of hypertension. Through our longstanding support for this movement, OMRON aims to encourage Filipinos to practice blood pressure monitoring as a health habit,” said Yusuke Kato, General Manager for OMRON Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd – Philippine Branch (Healthcare Division).

 

For more information on May Measurement Month 2022, you may visit www.maymeasure.org.

 

About the Philippine Society of Hypertension

The Philippine Society of Hypertension Inc. (PSH) was incorporated on 7 January 1993 by medical health providers concerned with the diagnosis, management, treatment, and prevention of hypertension. These providers include internist-cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians, occupational and family physicians and practitioners from other medical disciplines. 

 

PSH is a member of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and the World Hypertension League (WHL). For more information, please visit the PSH website at https://www.philippinesocietyofhypertension.org.ph.

 

For more information on OMRON’s Healthcare business in the Philippines, please visit OMRON’s website at https://www.omronhealthcare-ap.com/ph.

 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OMRONhealthcarePH

 

OMRON Healthcare announces that its blood pressure monitoring (BPM) devices will now be available at Mercury Drug

OMRON Healthcare, a global leader in the field of clinically proven, innovative medical equipment, announces that its blood pressure monitoring (BPM) devices will now be available at Mercury Drug, the leading drugstore in the country. The latest OMRON HEM 7156-A model is already out in selected Mercury Drug stores nationwide.

 

OMRON, alongside organizations such as the Philippine Society of Hypertension, continues to campaign for home blood pressure monitoring as a means to mitigate the effects of hypertension. Even amid the pandemic, high blood pressure continues to be one of the top causes of mortality among Filipinos, with the latest survey from the Philippine Heart Association placing the prevalence rate of hypertension at 37 percent.^[1] Despite this alarming statistic, only about 25% of hypertensives monitor their blood pressure at home, the survey further reveals.

Through this collaboration with Mercury Drug, OMRON reaffirms its commitment to help more Filipino families achieve good heart health.

“Our partnership with Mercury Drug allows us to bring OMRON closer to more Filipinos. With Mercury Drug’s vast network of more than 1,200 stores nationwide, we have a larger platform to make our world-class and reliable healthcare technologies more accessible to Filipinos. As we continue to forge more partnerships and expand the channels where our products are available, we remain steadfast in our commitment to promote home blood pressure monitoring as a means to help prevent the complications resulting from hypertension,” shared Yusuke Kato, General Manager for OMRON Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd – Philippine Branch (Healthcare Division). 

 

Mercury Drug has been offering branded and generic medicines, medical devices, and healthcare and personal care products since 1945. Through the years, it has established its reputation as the leading drugstore in the Philippines, making it one of the most trusted and awarded merchants in the country today.

 

Ms. Vivian Que-Azcona, President of Mercury Drug Corporation said, “This partnership aligns with our mission to serve our customers – to have what they want, when, where and how they want it. This OMRON blood pressure monitoring device is a welcome addition to our  product range that will help our customers  in managing their health condition.” 

 

 

Effortless Accuracy from the Comforts of Home

 

The HEM-7156-A is a state-of-the-art device designed for ease of use.

 

One of the most notable features of the HEM-7156-A is the 360-degree IntelliWrap Cuff technology. A study by Perleberg Research in 2014 revealed that one in three people measure their blood pressure inaccurately when monitoring from home.^[2] A big contributor factor to this is incorrect cuff positioning. OMRON’s IntelliWrap Cuff solves this through a preformed fit cuff that gives accurate readings at any angle and reduces measurement errors at home. The cuff is even designed to make wearing easy to do even with just one hand – a benefit that is indispensable for self-monitoring. 

 

OMRON HEM-7156-A is also equipped with “Intellisense”, a standard among all OMRON blood pressure monitors. This means that the device automatically personalizes the cuff inflation to eliminate pain or discomfort for the wearer during measurement. This revolutionary technology pioneered by OMRON further minimizes possible misrepresentation in readings.  

 

The device is programmed to signal when an individual is suspected to have highly elevated blood pressure through its Hypertension Indicator. It features Pulse Rate and Body Movement Capturing and Irregular Heartbeat Detection, the latter helping to detect abnormal heart beat rhythm for early intervention and treatment of possible cardiovascular diseases. The product package also comes with a universal adapter. 

 

The OMRON HEM-7156-A is available in selected Mercury Drug branches nationwide for only Php4,380. For more information about OMRON Healthcare’s products and their availability, please visit https://www.omronhealthcare-ap.com/ph.

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[1] PRESYON 4 Nationwide Hypertension Survey 2021 Results

[2] Perleberg Consumer Research 2014, UK/Italy