Feature

National Alliance Declares War on High Blood Pressure 

Leading National Organizations Mobilize to Improve Diagnosis, Treatment And Control Rates 

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2000 - Leading medical, patient and government organizations today announce they have united to form a dynamic healthcare coalition mobilized to reverse the growing trend of uncontrolled high blood pressure that, despite national efforts to reach recommended targets, continues to be a potential threat to the lives of millions of Americans. 

The group -- From Awareness to Action: The National Alliance to Reach Blood Pressure Goals -- joins the forces of influential organizations in order to increase the rate of diagnosis, treatment and control of high blood pressure. "High blood pressure is widespread in this country, and we must address it with the urgency it demands," said Martha N. Hill, RN, PhD, Professor and Director, 

The Center for Nursing Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Chair of the From Awareness to Action Advisory Council. "The organizations launching this Alliance all share a renewed commitment to bringing national attention to the problem of uncontrolled hypertension and finding effective solutions for this life-threatening condition. We are delighted others have expressed interest in joining us in this effort." 

The overall mission of From Awareness to Action is to reduce death and disability caused by complications from high blood pressure. Led by an Advisory Council of five diverse leaders in the healthcare arena who are passionate about the drive to reach blood pressure goals, the Alliance will spearhead a series of high profile intervention programs to increase the urgency behind treating and controlling high blood pressure to recommended goals. 

National and grassroots activities will not only raise awareness about the consequences of high blood pressure, but also actively promote meaningful patient-provider dialogue to positively impact blood pressure control rates. 

"The Silent Killer" Roars Today, more than 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure, which is a leading contributor to the first (heart attack) and third (stroke) causes of death in the U.S. While progress has been made over the last 30 years in detecting and controlling high blood pressure, control rates are no longer improving. Alarmingly, one in four of those affected are unaware that they have high blood pressure. And only 27% are treated to the recommended goal of below 140/90mmHg, with even worse control rates in older people and African Americans. 

"Hypertension can be successfully managed, and the benefits of high blood pressure control are enormous," said Henry Black, MD, Associate Vice President for Research, Chairman, Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian- St. Luke's Medical Center, and member of the Advisory Council for From Awareness to Action. 

"Clearly, more aggressive blood pressure management is critical -- we can no longer be content with elevated systolic or diastolic blood pressure. This Alliance is a nationwide call-to-action for patients and healthcare providers to join together to reach target blood pressure goals that can allow people to live longer and healthier lives." From Awareness to Action is funded and supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb who has a long-standing commitment to cardiovascular health as part of its mission to extend and enhance human life. 

For more information about From Awareness to Action: The National Alliance to Reach Blood Pressure Goals, visit www.fromatoa.org. 

 Advisory Council: -- Martha N. Hill, RN, PhD, Professor and Director, The Center for Nursing Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD -- Henry R. Black, MD, Associate Vice President for Research, Chairman, Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL -- Barry Carter, PharmD, Professor and Chairman, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Denver, CO -- Keith Ferdinand, MD, FACC, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Xavier University College of Pharmacy and Director, Heartbeats Life Center, New Orleans, LA -- Nancy Houston Miller, RN, BSN, Associate Director, Stanford Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, Stanford University School of Medicine and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, Palo Alto, CA 

Partnering With Organizations: -- Alliance for Aging Research -- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners -- American College of Cardiology -- American College of Nurse Practitioners -- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists -- American Heart Association -- American Medical Women's Association -- American Osteopathic Association -- American Pharmaceutical Association -- American Podiatric Medical Association -- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists -- Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. -- Citizens for Public Action on High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol -- The Hypertension Education Foundation, Inc. -- National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc. -- National Black Nurses Association -- National Center for Health Statistics -- National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease -- National Consumers League -- National Council of Negro Women, Inc. -- National Council on the Aging -- National Hypertension Association, Inc. -- National Medical Association -- Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association