About 103 million adults (nearly half) in the United States have high blood pressure. Research shows that high blood pressure is a contributing factor to major health conditions including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health concerns. Research also shows that 45.9% of those with high blood pressure are not controlled, that’s 36.7 million people!
In 2015, the AHA and AMA partnered to launch Target: BP to improve blood pressure control and build a healthier nation. This national initiative aims to reduce the number of Americans who have heart attacks and strokes by urging medical practices, health service organizations, and patients to prioritize blood pressure control. This last Friday, June 1, was the deadline for data submission for 2018 recognitions.
How did our state fare?
- The Maryland Community Health Centers enrolled seven sites reaching 100,000 people!
- The Greater Washington Region enrolled more than a dozen clinics reaching more than 150,000 patients.
- Virginia health systems and clinics are engaged! More than a quarter million people are being reached by the half-dozen clinics that enrolled for recognition.
- North Carolina has nearly one 1.5 million people represented from health care organizations across the state!
- The state of South Carolina is extraordinarily well represented in Target: BP with nearly 300 clinics in every corner of the state enrolled and reaching more than one million people.
Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.