High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
What Can Be Done
The Affordable Care Act
- Will expand health insurance coverage to up to 94% of people under age 65 by 2019.
- Will require new health plans to cover preventive services for certain populations including
- Testing for high blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Counseling on the use of daily aspirin to reduce the risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
- Using counseling and medication to help people quit smoking.
- Managing obesity and providing counseling on diet and weight loss.
- Will provide more trained health professionals to treat people with high blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Will improve the delivery of services.
Policymakers can:
- Develop policies that reward effective disease prevention and chronic disease management.
- Develop policies that allow other health care professionals (pharmacists, dietitians, community health workers, nurses and nurse practitioners) to have a more active role in managing high blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Develop policies for medical care that increase the use of electronic health records and doctor reminder systems.
- Champion policies to reduce salt and eliminate artificial trans fat in the nation's food supply.
Doctors, nurses, and other health providers can:
- Follow current guidelines for prevention, treatment, and control of heart disease and stroke.
- Use electronic health records and registries of their patients with high blood pressure and cholesterol, or who smoke so patients get the follow-up care they need, and providers get feedback on their performance.
- Manage these conditions at every patient visit at every provider to help them control their blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Remind patients about follow-up care (e.g., automatic phone calls, Internet reminders) and self-monitoring of high blood pressure at home.
- Urge patients at every opportunity to quit smoking.
Individuals can:
- Follow your doctor's instructions and stay on your medications to control your blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt; low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol; and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Take at least 1 brisk 10-minute walk, 3 times a day, 5 days a week.
- Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - cdcinfo@cdc.gov