Cardiovascular health involves not only the prevention of risk factors but also the management of certain health conditions - high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, overweight, and diabetes.

The Task Force supports efforts that encourage communities to recognize these health conditions as CVD risk factors, provide access to regular preventive health care services, and increase awareness of the importance of disease management, including patient self-management.

 

The following are the risk factors focused on by the Management Committee of the Task Force:

Another area of cardiovascular risk factor management includes getting necessary immunizations such as flu shots to prevent further complications of chronic disease. While flu shots provide a measure to prevent influenza, many people are unaware that studies show flu shots also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

 

In older adults, vaccination against influenza is associated with reductions in the risk of hospitalizations for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia and influenza as well as the risk of death from all causes during influenza seasons. Influenza contributes to an average 36,000 deaths each year in the United States.

 

Nationally, flu shots are recommended for all adults 50 and older, especially adults with chronic health conditions. For further information and a recommended schedule of adult immunizations, please refer to http://www.immunizenc.com/Adults.htm.

 

Last Updated 09/06/05