Give your Valentine the gift of a healthier ‘Future’ – National Consumers League

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Did you know cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one in every three deaths caused by heart disease or stroke—2,200 American deaths each day? With heart health in the spotlight in February for American Heart Month, consumer health advocates are saying there’s never been a better time for individuals to recognize the leading cause of death in America and give the gift of education, prevention, and treatment to their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

This Valentine’s Day, NCL and its Script Your Future campaign are calling on consumers to bypass the box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers in favor of the much more meaningful gift of a pledge to a healthier future, achieved through the close monitoring of chronic conditions, taking medications as directed, and engaging in productive two-way dialogue with health care professionals.

Script Your Future is challenging consumers to give the gift of a healthier future to their special someone this year. Script Your Future offers many ways to help loved ones stay on top of their new commitment to health and well-being:

  1. Take the pledge to take medication as directed as a first step to a healthier life in 2012. Take the pledge for yourself, or create one for your Valentine here.
  2. Download a medication wallet card to help keep track of medication(s) and get useful questions and conversation starters for your health care professional. Sit down with your Valentine and fill out the wallet card with your medicines, dosages, and refill dates together.
  3. Sign up for free text message medication reminders at ScriptYourFuture.org. You set the start date, time, and frequency of dosages.
  4. Commit to engage in conversations about medication with health care professionals during doctor visits and at the pharmacy. Talk to your Valentine about your health concerns, and take advantage of sample questions for health care professionals, and videos and fact sheets on common chronic conditions at ScriptYourFuture.org.