Dr. Jayne Morgan, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss cardiovascular health, digital health solutions and the importance of preventive care for union members.
Hello Heart is an app that helps users track their heart health and receive real-time tips. According to Morgan, the app is a simple yet powerful tool focused on empowering people to understand and improve their heart health using technology and behavioral science. Their goal is to help individuals prevent avoidable heart disease, the number one cause of death and disability for all Americans. She noted that union members have a higher potential to suffer from heart disease than the average person.
Morgan explained how members can use Hello Heart's mobile app and connected blood pressure monitor to track their blood pressure, receive personalized coaching and share data with healthcare providers. This approach not only helps individuals lower their blood pressure but could also improve cholesterol levels and weight loss, even when users primarily focus on blood pressure management.
Morgan then highlighted the disproportionate impact of heart disease on certain populations, particularly Black women. She discussed Hello Heart's pregnancy feature, designed to address the higher rates of hypertension and maternal mortality among Black women. According to Morgan, this feature provides tailored monitoring and alerts during pregnancy, potentially reducing long-term heart disease risk and improving maternal health outcomes.
Morgan said that about 80 percent of heart disease is preventable through lifestyle choices, medication adherence and regular monitoring. She emphasized the importance of digital health solutions like Hello Heart in empowering union members to make informed decisions about their health. This should reduce the burden of heart disease and improve the overall quality of life for app users. By focusing on preventive care and leveraging technology, Morgan believes significant progress can be made in combating the nation's leading cause of death.
To hear more from Dr. Morgan on heart health and digital solutions, listen to the full episode above.