Did you know that September is National Cholesterol Education Month?
More than 70 million adults have high cholesterol, and only one-third of those adults have the condition under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Those are some scary numbers, especially considering the increased risk of people with high cholesterol developing heart disease, a leading cause of death in the U.S.
During the month of September, take some extra steps to educate your patients on the causes and effects of high cholesterol. You can also offer patient care services at your pharmacy to help patients keep their cholesterol in check.
Here are some tips for highlighting National Cholesterol Education Month at your pharmacy.
Offer free cholesterol screenings
Individuals with high cholesterol often don’t experience any symptoms, and don’t know their cholesterol levels are high unless they’re tested.
Your pharmacy may already offer cholesterol screenings to patients. As an extra bonus for patients, consider offering these screenings for free or at a discounted price for the entire month of September.
Let patients know that the screenings are quick and simple. And, if a patient’s results indicate he has high cholesterol, assist him with a treatment plan. Working with patients to develop a plan of action will strengthen your relationships, and increase the likelihood that they’ll return to your pharmacy.
Emphasize services related to high cholesterol
If your pharmacy offers patient care services that are especially beneficial to patients with high cholesterol levels, spend some extra time promoting those services this month.
Smoking can be detrimental to patients who have high cholesterol. If your pharmacy has a smoking cessation program, encourage smokers with high cholesterol levels to join the program. Don’t have a program? Maybe now’s the time to start one!
High cholesterol and diabetes both increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, so it’s important for patients with diabetes to keep their cholesterol levels under control. Because high cholesterol is a common problem for individuals with diabetes, it may be beneficial to promote your pharmacy’s diabetes education class when speaking to patients about cholesterol levels.
Promote health and fitness
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight are all steps patients can take to ensure their cholesterol stays at a normal level. Unfortunately, many people with high cholesterol aren’t sure where to begin.
Hosting a health and fitness education class at your pharmacy could be a great way to educate patients on what they should and shouldn’t be eating.
In addition, you can emphasize the importance of exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol levels. Encourage patients to set a goal for how much exercise to get each week, and discuss different activities they can do to get the necessary amount.
Hand out a chart or recommend a mobile fitness app, such as My Fitness Pal, where patients can keep a food diary and record their exercise to make sure they’re staying on track.
Share helpful information on social media
Online resources can help spread awareness about health, fitness and cholesterol levels to patients who are unable to attend a class at your pharmacy.
For example, post the information you present in a class and tools you recommend in a blog post on your website, as well as on your social media accounts.
You could also post a healthy tip on your social media pages every day in September to draw attention to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Check out these five tips to encourage and promote healthy living in your pharmacy.
