Have a Happy, Heart-Healthy New Year!

by Vineetha Pathrose, Vollmer Public Relations Dallas

It’s a new year, and a new decade, and that means coming up with the usual resolutions in an effort to improve ourselves - lose weight, get fit, drink less alcohol, quit smoking and reduce overall stress.  Some of us like to get creative with our resolutions.  Last year, my brother decided he was going to learn how to speak Russian.  To no one’s surprise, he has yet to learn the Russian language.

New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being short-lived, even though they are meant to enhance and even lengthen our lives. Sometimes we just need the right trigger to get our minds to stick with the plan.

One of Vollmer’s clients, the American Heart Association, recently launched a new Web site to educate consumers about the dangers of high blood pressure.  Over the last few months we have worked to bring life to the American Heart Association's campaign, triggering Americans to make the right choices for a healthy heart as we begin 2010.

As the center of its campaign The American Heart Association introduced Hiram “Hi” B. Presher, a character featured in a humorous animation created by Vollmer.  Hiram is obnoxious and has all the bad habits — drinking in excess, smoking in your face and gorging on salty junk food — that can lead to high blood pressure.  Using Hiram’s animation, combined with media relations and grassroots Twitter and Facebook tactics, Vollmer has worked to help the American Heart Association spread its messages to broader target audiences.

So, how do you keep Hiram B. Presher from crashing your life?  Stick with your New Year’s resolutions – eat healthier, drink less alcohol, stop smoking, exercise regularly and learn a new language. Okay, so high blood pressure may not care if you speak Russian, but you’ll definitely be a more fascinating person this year.

Learn more about high blood pressure by visiting the American Heart Association’s new high blood pressure website, following them on Twitter (@AmHeartHighBP) and becoming an “HBP Escapee” Facebook fan.