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Fact Sheets and At–a–Glance Reports
State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program Addresses High Blood
Pressure
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High Blood Pressure Activities in CDC-Funded State Heart Disease and
Stroke Prevention Program
The Arkansas program addresses hypertension in African American males,
in partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), the Community
Health Centers of Arkansas, the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, and
the Arkansas Department of Health's Minority Health Office, and others.
The Maine program works to assure quality of care and compliance with
guidelines through the implementation of AHA's Get with the Guidelines
for CVD, in collaboration with its partners which include AHA and
managed-care organizations.
The Oregon program analyzed Medicaid claims to determine the
prevalence of CVD risk factors, including hypertension.
The Missouri program collaborates with the
St. Louis Fire Department
to provide blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, referral, and
follow up to residents in inner-city neighborhoods. Persons with
dangerously high blood pressure have been taken to hospitals.
The Wisconsin Program, working with its State Medicare Quality
Improvement Organization and State Diabetes Program, analyzed Health
Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) indicators for
hypertension.
The Virginia program has partnered with AHA on a blood pressure
control media campaign. |
High Blood Pressure Facts
- High blood pressure (HBP), defined by systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg
or more, or diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or more, affects an estimated
50 million people in the United States.
- One of four adults has high blood pressure and another 59 million
adults have pre-hypertension (systolic blood pressure of 120–139 or
diastolic blood pressure of 80–89).1,2
- According to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on
Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
(JNC 7), about 30% of people with high blood pressure are unaware of
their condition, approximately half of hypertensives are not treated,
and only 34% have their high blood pressure controlled.4
- High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases
for which treatment is available. Uncontrolled high blood pressure
increases one's risk of heart disease and stroke; even modest elevations
in blood pressure are associated with an increase in disease risk.
- Results from large-scale trials show that a 5 mm Hg reduction in
diastolic blood pressure corresponds to a 21% reduction in heart disease
risk.4 Because the consequences of high blood pressure are so
serious, early detection, treatment, and control are critical.
- About 50% of people who suffer a first heart attack and about 66% of
people experiencing a first stroke have blood pressure above 160/95 mm
Hg.5 Also, high blood pressure is associated with a 2–3 times
higher risk of developing heart failure.6
- The cost of high blood pressure and its adverse health outcomes is
an economic burden to our nation. In 2007, the estimated direct and
indirect costs of high blood pressure are projected to be $66.4 billion.
- Treatment of high blood pressure includes behavior changes and
compliance to drug therapy when indicated. Reduction in excess weight
through improved diet and exercise and avoidance of excess dietary salt, for
example, can be very effective in controlling blood pressure. To help
with therapeutic decisions, the JNC 7 report establishes three risk
groups with recommended treatment. Adults should have their blood
pressure checked regularly.
See JNC 7 guidelines for treatment
recommendations.
State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program: Take Action!
State Health Departments work to reduce the burden of stroke by
promoting activities that can be implemented in health care, work sites,
communities, and schools. For example, a state program might
- Promote policy development for system changes that ensure increased
adherence to national guidelines for the prevention and control of
high blood pressure through screening and follow-up, and provide
education and training about the importance of implementing JNC 7
guidelines. Assure detection and follow-up services with employees for
control of blood pressure at the work site.
- Potential Partners: local health care professional
organizations; such as, occupational health nurses, medical
societies, health and safety managers, human resource managers,
voluntary health care organizations, and local health departments.
- Develop assessment tools for tracking high blood pressure treatment
and control rates.
- Potential Partners: primary care associations,
federally-qualified health centers, managed care organizations,
and Medicare Quality Improvement Organization.
- Inform the public that high blood pressure is a major
modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and that having
blood pressure checked is an important first step in identifying and
controlling high blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart
disease and stroke.
- Assure that detection and follow-up services are available for controlling
high blood
pressure and cholesterol in various settings including the work site and
community.
- Potential Partners: American Heart Association (AHA)
affiliates, media, business, industry and human resource
management, employee associations, unions, faith organizations,
local minority nursing associations, and local health departments.
- Collaborate on education and policy intervention programs to detect
and control high blood pressure in high-risk groups.
- Potential Partners: AHA affiliate, hospitals,
federally-qualified health centers, business, industry and human
resource management, employee associations, faith organizations,
local minority nursing association, and local health departments
- Advocate for health care coverage to include blood pressure
screening, treatment, and control, and rehabilitation services for
heart attack and stroke survivors.
- Potential Partners: AHA affiliate, business, industry and
human resource management, employee associations, unions, third
party payers, health care providers, and local policymakers.
Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure: Mission Possible
is a new initiative of the National High Blood Pressure Education
Program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
It is designed to mobilize all Americans in the fight against high
blood pressure and reduce the more than 1 million heart attacks,
strokes, and kidney failure cases that it causes each year. The CDC
and the NHLBI have joined forces to disseminate these materials
through the State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. An
evaluation of the use and dissemination was conducted in 2006. |
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Blood Pressure Classification* |
Blood Pressure level (mm Hg) |
Normal |
Systolic BP <120 AND
Diastolic BP <80 |
Pre-Hypertension |
Systolic BP= 120–139 OR
Diastolic BP= 80-89 |
Stage 1 Hypertension |
Systolic BP= 140–159 OR
Diastolic BP= 90-99 |
Stage 2 Hypertension |
Systolic BP= 160 or
higher OR Diastolic BP= 100 or higher |
*If the systolic and diastolic blood pressure
measurements fall into two different categories, the blood pressure
classification is the higher of the two categories.
Source: The Seventh
Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection,
Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
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References
- American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke
Statistics—2007 Update. Dallas, TX: AHA,2007.
- Levy D, Larson MG, Vasan RS, Kannel WB, Ho KK. The progression from
hypertension to congestive heart failure. JAMA
1996;275:1557–1562.
- American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics–2003
Update. Dallas, TX: AHA.
- National Institutes of Health. The Seventh Report of the the Joint National Committee on
Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and treatment of High Blood Pressure www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines
- Magnus P, Beaglehole R. The real contribution of the major risk
factors to the coronary epidemics. Archives of Internal Medicine 2001;161:2657–60.
- Hellermann JP, Goraya TY, Jacobsen SJ, Weston SA, Reeder GS, Gersh
BJ, Redfield MM, Rodeheffer RJ, Yawn BP, Roger VL. Incidence of Heart
Failure after Myocardial Infarction: Is It Changing over Time? Arch Intern
Med 1997;157:2413–46.
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Date last reviewed:
02/07/2007
Content source: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke
Prevention,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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