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Arkansas has the highest death rates for heart attack and stroke in the nation 64% higher than the national average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in Arkansas.

The major modifiable risk factors for heart disease and stroke have increased in Arkansas over the past 20 years: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and inadequate physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables.One key risk factor, smoking, has declined very slightly.

Another factor causing Arkansas high rates of CVD, heart attacks and strokes is health disparities in terms of race, gender, age and socioeconomic status.Disparities are clearly evident in CVDs risk factors, incidence, diagnosis,treatment and death rates. Social determinants such as poverty, unemployment,limited education and poor nutrition disproportionately affect racial minorities, especially in rural Arkansas. African American and Hispanic Arkansans have a higher prevalence than Caucasians for high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.Approximately 18% of Arkansans have an income below poverty.

Arkansas could save $518.6 million annually in direct medical care expenditures, plus wider use of preventive services and chronic disease management, by eliminating health disparities, according to the Minority Health Commission.

AFMC and the Arkansas health care community are attacking the root causes ofheart disease with initiatives to improve heart health, reduce health disparities, enhance prevention measures and help communities increase healthy activities.

The national Million Hearts 2022 campaign uses innovative strategies to reach minority populations and people with mental or substance abuse disorders. The campaign educates people in their communities and places of religious worship, using interventions such as public blood pressure monitors, Health Hubs in libraries, smoking cessation campaigns, and heart health promotions in barbershops, beauty salons, fitness centers and retail outlets. Cities were encouraged to promote community fitness challenges, local farmers markets and walking trails.

AFMC developed and distributed Bless Your Heart toolkits to churches andfaith-based organizations to develop health ministries and enhance heart-healthy outreach efforts at church and community events. Support groups facilitate peer-to-peer training on healthy eating and cooking demonstrations, home blood pressure monitoring and exercise programs. AFMCs quality specialists assist health ministries in planning monthly health topics, events, trainings and educational materials.

AFMC provides technical assistance to doctors who serve high-risk populations. Using electronic health records, providers can identify where they can have the greatest impact on patients heart health, allowing AFMCs analysts to identify the most at-risk patients and population disparities.

AFMC provides speakers who promote the American Heart Associations (AHA)national initiative to control high blood pressure using the Check. Change.Control. method. It encourages individuals to regularly monitor and track their blood pressure both habits significantly improve blood pressure control.

The free tools available on AFMCs website (afmc.org) help people activelymanage their heart disease and stroke risks by:

Another best practice is to dial, dont drive. If you suspect heart attacksymptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. About half of patients experiencing a heartattack drive themselves to the hospital, not realizing the potential harms of cardiac arrest with no one to perform CPR, causing an accident or not going to the appropriate hospital. Emergency medical services (EMS) are essential to the chain of survival for heart attack patients. They begin treatment at the patients location, and can alert the most appropriate hospital that a heart attack patient is en route, letting patients bypass the emergency room and go straight to life-saving treatment.

When communities use evidence-based treatments, embrace quality improvementinitiatives and focus on improving heart-healthy behaviors, CVD and strokehospitalization and death rates drop significantly. National statistics over the past decade are impressive:

At AFMC, we believe Arkansas can achieve these same results. Hypertension isthe easiest chronic health condition to treat. Universal treatment would payenormous dividends in terms of lives saved, quality of life, enhanced productivity and reduced health care costs.

Get involved during heart month in February. Regular blood pressure checks are an inexpensive and highly effective way to monitor risk of future heart disease. Does your business offer employees regular, free blood pressure checks?

Editors note: Ray Hanley is president and CEO of the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC), a nonprofit health care improvement organization. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

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Home » Exercise Programs » Have a heart? Keep it healthy – talkbusiness.net