May is national High Blood Pressure Education Month and National Stroke Awareness Month; a time to facilitate activities to help raise awareness and offer education.
According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is usually preventable with simple steps, yet it kills more people worldwide than any other condition. High blood pressure is the most important controllable risk factor for stroke, yet one in three American adults has high blood pressure.
“Of the 75 million Americans who have high blood pressure, nearly half do not have it under control. Most of these individuals have health insurance and visit a healthcare provider each year. As healthcare providers, we can do more to help curb clinical inertia existing in our clinics,” stated Jennifer Geisert, RN, BSN; Great Plains QIN Quality Improvement Advisor.
Various organizations have resources available to help raise awareness of this recognition month as well as providing educational resources for patients and professionals that can be used throughout the year.
Here are just a few:
- National Million Hearts Campaign™
- Centers for Disease Control
- American Heart Association
- Measure Up Pressure Down
- National Heart, Lungs,and Blood Institute
Great Plains Quality Innovation Network is actively working with providers, patients, partners and stakeholders to implement evidence-based practices that support the Million Hearts® initiative goal to prevent heart attacks and strokes. We provide resources and assistance on preventive cardiovascular best practices – the ABCS (Aspirin Therapy, Blood Pressure Control, Cholesterol Control and Smoking Cessation).
We will be promoting training opportunities and sharing resources and information on these very important topics throughout the month of May. Click here for resources, educational webinar recordings and to learn how you can become a partner to improve cardiac health across our region.