Heart and Stroke Healthy City Recognition Program

Purpose

Heart disease and stroke are the number one and number three leading causes of death in Texas and the United States. The risk factors for heart disease and stroke, physical inactivity, poor eating habits, obesity, tobacco use, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes, are either maintaining current levels or increasing in both populations. The physical environment may be a major contributor to the problem, due to the changes in the community setting such as lack of opportunities to participate in safe leisure-time physical activity, an abundance of high fat food options available at low costs, and increased television and computer time by children and adults. To add to the burden, most communities are not ready to react to a cardiovascular emergency. Survival rates for out-of-hospital heart attack and stroke, for example, are very low at 6.4 percent.

Changes in policies and environmental settings where people work, congregate or live can encourage choices for increasing daily physical activity, selecting healthier foods, and decreasing exposure to tobacco products or by-products such as smoke. Health-conscious policies can drive positive environmental change such as placing life saving devices in desirable and highly effective public locations, preserving park space and resources, and encouraging employers to offer preventive service coverage.

The Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, in collaboration with its partners from business, health care, school, and community organizations, has developed a list of indicators that, when present in a community can assist in promoting a heart and stroke healthy environment.

The Heart and Stroke Healthy City Recognition Program is based on proven interventions that have made a significant difference in increasing physical activity and better eating habits, as well as reducing tobacco use, and decreasing response time to heart attacks and strokes.

Last Updated March 8, 2007