Pekin Hospital Home Health Joins Million Hearts® Initiative

Pekin Hospital Home Health has partnered with Million Hearts®, a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. 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 by 2017 will require the work and commitment to change from all of us. You can reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke—and lead a longer, healthier life. The first step to reducing your risk for heart disease and stroke is to know your ABCS:
Appropriate Aspirin Use: Ask your doctor if aspirin will reduce your risk for heart attacks.
Blood Pressure Control: You can control your blood pressure and reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol Management: Your health care professional has advice to help you lower your cholesterol levels if they’re high.
Smoking Cessation: Ask your health care professional to connect you with tools to help you quit smoking.

Smoking doesn’t just kill, it also leads to long-term disability and dependence on others. The good news is that it’s never too late to quit.
Smoking can lead to heart attack or stroke and steals an average of 13-14 years of your life.
Once you stop smoking, your risk for heart attack and stroke declines each year.
There are resources to help you quit. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

When it comes to your blood pressure, you are in control.
You can monitor your blood pressure safely at home, at many pharmacies, and at your doctor’s office.
Work with a health care professional to take your medications as prescribed.

Be one in a Million Hearts®, by pledging to get involved and make a commitment to saving your life. Take the pledge today at http://millionhearts.hhs.gov.

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