Every day pharmacists across the United States are helping patients manage their blood pressure. In an effort to demonstrate how the pharmacy profession is contributing to cardiovascular health and the Million Hearts™ campaign, these pharmacists and their staff are invited to participate in a Pharmacy Blood Pressure Challenge. Participating pharmacists can log their patient outreach, education, and intervention activities on this site. Aggregated data will be shared with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the public to show the overall impact pharmacists have on patients with cardiovascular disease.
Million Hearts™ is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Launched in September 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services and co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Million Hearts™ initiative brings together public and private partners to prevent heart disease and stroke.
The Million Hearts™ initiative seeks to:
• Empower Americans to make healthy choices such as avoiding tobacco use and reducing the amount of sodium and trans fat they eat. These changes will reduce the number of people who need medical treatment for high blood pressure or cholesterol—and ultimately prevent heart attacks and strokes.
• Improve care for people who do need treatment by encouraging a focus on the "ABCS"—Aspirin for people at risk, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation—four steps to address the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years will require the work and commitment to change from all of us. Each of us can take steps to ensure we reach this goal. Be one in a Million Hearts™ by pledging to get involved and see how your actions can make a positive difference. Take the pledge today at http://millionhearts.hhs.gov.