According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke—about 795,000 per year. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults. This is disturbing because about 80% of strokes are preventable.
While stroke death declines have stalled in 3 out of every 4 states, stroke deaths have continued to decrease steadily in the four Great Plains QIN states. In spite of this good news, it important for us to continue to be vigilant and to promote partnerships that focus on education and awareness for patients as well as healthcare professionals.
Hypertension is the single most important treatable risk factor for stroke. The Great Plains QIN recently hosted a webinar that focused on the importance of accuracy in blood pressure measurement in the identification and management of hypertension. As a standard part of many physicians’ office workflows, measuring blood pressure may seem like a normal routine, but seemingly minor issues can impact blood pressure measurement. The webinar included demonstration of proper blood pressure cuff sizing, how to take a blood pressure and alternate blood pressure measurement sites. Click here to view the recording.
Additional educational tools to measure blood pressure correctly were also provided including Measuring Blood Pressure…the Right Way and Community Based Blood Pressure Screening Algorithm.