Health District commemorates American Heart Month
joins Million Hearts™ campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 1, 2017
LAS VEGAS – Love your heart . . . it will love you back. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Nevada, accounting for 26.7 percent of deaths in the state in 2015. February is American Heart Month, and the Southern Nevada Health District is joining the national Million Hearts™ campaign to prevent more than one million heart attacks and strokes in the United States. Information about heart disease, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, and more can be found on the website, Get Healthy Clark County and on its Spanish language site, Viva Saludable.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors associated with heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. In the United States, the cost of all coronary heart disease is approximately $320 billion annually, according to the CDC (2015). This total includes the cost of health care services and lost productivity.
Following are some cardiovascular and heart disease facts:
- In Nevada, 165,000 (7.7 percent) adults are affected by a nonfatal cardiovascular condition
- In Nevada, non-Hispanic black adults had the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease
- In Nevada, heart disease is the leading cause of hospitalizations for people age 65 and older
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women
- Approximately two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms
- Each year, approximately 735,000 Americans have a heart attack – 525,000 are a first heart attack
For information about heart disease and more, visit the American Heart Association site, www.AmericanHeart.org and the CDC site www.CDC.gov. Additional statistical information is accessible on the CDC Interactive Atlas Nevada.
The Health District has a tool kit available for health care providers to assist them to manage their patients’ cardiovascular conditions. To receive a toolkit, health care providers can contact Amineh Harvey in the Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at harveya@snhdmail.org or call (702) 759-0790.
The Million Hearts™ Initiative was launched in September 2011 to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. It is led by the CDC, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, and additional federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health and private sector partners such as the American Heart Association and the YMCA, among others. Million Hearts™ brings together heart disease and stroke prevention programs, policies, and activities to raise awareness among health care providers, private-sector organizations, policymakers, and consumers about what can be done to prevent heart disease and stroke. Information about the Million Hearts™ initiative can be found by visiting: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov.
To commemorate American Heart Month, the Health District will host several events at its 280 S. Decatur Blvd. public health center:
Friday, February 3, Wear Red Day
Blood Pressure Checks
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., free blood pressure checks
Basics of Blood Pressure Management
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Chair Yoga & Breathing for a Healthy Heart
11:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 12:35 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
Friday, February 10
Blood Pressure Checks
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cooking for the Heart
11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Blood Pressure Information
12:05 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. & 12:40 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
Steps to help minimize the risk of developing heart disease include quitting smoking, keeping blood pressure under control, achieving a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a heart healthy diet, and limiting alcohol use. It is also important to keep cholesterol levels in check and to receive regular health care services, especially for people with diabetes or hypertension. At every visit to a health care provider, discuss blood pressure, cholesterol, and lab test results, and, if they are higher than normal, ask for tips on reducing the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.