Panasonic Sponsors 2011 World Heart Day

SECAUCUS, N.J., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As a global corporate sponsor of 2011 World Heart Day on September 29, Panasonic will hold free public healthcare events on Saturday, October 1, 2011 in three cities across the nation in order to bring additional awareness to cardiovascular disease, prevention and treatment.  

Created by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day was first celebrated in 2000 and was created to inform people around the world about the risks of heart disease and stroke. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease and stroke are the world's leading cause of death, claiming over 17 million lives each year.  

As part of a newly developed Cardio Metabolic Health Program, Panasonic Healthcare Group, in conjunction with Eternity Medicine Institute (EMI), Premier Heart, NiTek, Biophysical Corporation, Biospace, Inc., Dr. William J. Focazio and P.A.S.T. Retired Athletes Medical Resource Group, will host public events in Clifton, NJ, Las Vegas, NV and Chicago, IL, which will offer free cardiovascular screenings using Panasonic's CardioHealth® Station.  

A non-invasive, easy-to-use, ultrasound scanning machine, Panasonic's CardioHealth® Station is designed to detect dangerous plaque build-up in the carotid arteries that may have been otherwise missed in patients who were misclassified using traditional risk factors, including cholesterol and blood pressure.  

"As a world leader in electronics, we are proud to be making a positive impact in the healthcare industry and supporting events that will help educate the public on heart disease," said Steven Lynum, Director-Clinical Products, Panasonic Healthcare Group.  "By creating new healthcare technologies, like the CardioHealth® Station, we are able to help positively impact the way that cardiovascular disease is diagnosed, becoming a strong force in disease prevention."

Events will be held in three cities on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the following times and locations:

"In an effort to establish our company as a leader in Personalized Preventative Medicine, Panasonic is proud to support World Heart Day 2011," said Yoshihiro Yuasa, Senior Vice President of Executive Corporate Planning, Panasonic Corporation of North America.  "Together with the World Heart Federation, we hope to help spread the message about heart disease prevention, detection and treatment and intend to utilize our resources to engage the public, bringing greater awareness to a disease that affects men and women all across the globe."

Together with its members, the World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, are controlled.  

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics brand to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking (http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2011-Report/BestGlobalGreenBrandsTable-2011.aspx).  As part of its continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Panasonic Corporation of North America will relocate its operations to a new eco-efficient office tower adjacent to a mass transit hub in Newark, NJ in 2013.  Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at http://panasonic.net/eco/ecoideas/.  Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

About Panasonic's Healthcare Group

Based in Secaucus, NJ Panasonic Healthcare Group is a business group of Panasonic Corporation of North America.  Bringing together Panasonic's expertise in a wide range of health and medical device technologies the business unit develops products for the healthcare industry relating to hearing care and diagnostic machines.  For more information visit www.panasonic.com/cardiohealthstation

About the World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is dedicated to leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke with a focus on low- and middle-income countries via a united community of more than 200 member organizations. With its members, the World Heart Federation works to build global commitment to addressing cardiovascular health at the policy level, generates and exchanges ideas, shares best practice, advances scientific knowledge and promotes knowledge transfer to tackle cardiovascular disease – the world's number one killer.  It is a growing membership organization that brings together the strength of medical societies and heart foundations from more than 100 countries. Through our collective efforts we can help people all over the world to lead longer and better heart-healthy lives. www.worldheart.org

About Eternity Medical Institute

Eternity Medical Institute delivers the world's most comprehensive, evidence-based, proactive health screening and therapeutic programs. Eternity is based in Dubai, Las Vegas and New Jersey with plans to open further centers in the near future. The Institute transforms health through knowledge and wisdom, with a mission to reverse cardio-vascular disease. Highly respected in its field, Eternity is renowned for its progressive and proactive approach to promoting good health through its team of world expert physicians and cutting edge equipment. Eternity offers CME accredited physician training and opportunities and is the first and only licensed distributor of bioidentical hormones in the Middle East.

SOURCE Panasonic