Improving Cardiac Health, Preventing Strokes and Reducing Disparities
Focusing on the ABCS of cardiac risk reduction
Healthy People, Healthy Communities: Cardiac Health
Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases kill over 800,000 Americans each year, accounting for one in every three deaths. It’s the nation’s number one killer among both men and women and the leading cause of health disparities across the population. To address this issue, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established Million Hearts®, a five-year initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The Great Plains Quality Innovation Network has joined the fight to prevent heart attacks and strokes through the national Million Hearts® initiative. We are partnering with healthcare providers to ensure cardiac care is safe, appropriate and preventive measures are taken to get the best health outcomes possible.
It is also important for you to take the following actions to ensure a healthy heart and reduce your risk of heart related disease:
- Talk to your healthcare professional about your heart health
- Understand your family’s health history – identify risks for heart disease and stroke that family members have experienced
- Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly
- Learn ways to manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- If you smoke, get help to stop
- Eat a heart-healthy diet (high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol)
- Exercise regularly (30 minutes per day)
- Follow your doctor’s instructions about your medications
We hope, through our efforts, individuals will receive better care, have better health outcomes and an overall better care experience. Partner with us; let’s make a difference together.
(A) Aspirin Therapy Talk to your doctor about your health history and ask if taking an aspirin daily is right for you.
(B) Blood Pressure Control High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke. If yours is high, take steps to lower it.
(C) Cholesterol Management Half of adults with high cholesterol do not get treatment. Get tested and take control.
(S) Stop Smoking Smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible.
Documents and Resources
Great Plains Quality Care Coalition
Our Vision: Through collaboration and partnership, we aspire to make healthcare in the Dakotas the best in the nation. We have partnered with committed nursing homes, community leaders and healthcare organizations to improve the care in our communities. Better together.