Primaris Press Release
| For immediate release: Sept. 25, 2007 |
Contact: Matt Heger Primaris Communications Department (800) 735-6776, Ext. 136 |
Have a heart, take care of it
World Heart Day is September 30
In honor of World Heart Day, health care experts urge Missourians to take preventative action against the world’s largest killer.
Heart disease and stroke claim 17.5 million lives each year, more than any other disease. Yet, for the most part, it is preventable and controllable by reducing risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, tobacco use, obesity and physical inactivity.
“Each year heart failure and stroke claim millions of lives that could have been saved through exercise, diet and nonsmoking,” said Richard A. Royer, CEO of Primaris, a nonprofit health care consulting firm based in Columbia, Mo.
“This is an issue that should strike a chord with Missourians. Our state’s death rate from heart disease has been higher than the national average for years. This trend will not reverse itself,” said Royer.
Survey data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Missouri adults report a number of risk factors for heart disease. The most recently available data said that:
- 27.3 percent have high blood pressure
- 23.2 percent report no physical activity in the past 30 days
- 35.7 percent are overweight
- An additional 27.2 percent are obese
- 23.2 percent are smokers.
Primaris offers six recommendations to help keep your heart healthy. These include eating a balanced diet, avoiding high-calorie beverages such as soft drinks, limiting salt intake, regular exercise, not smoking and limiting alcohol intake.
“Heart problems account for almost a third of all deaths in the world. If you think you may be at high-risk for heart disease, talk to a doctor,” said Royer.
World Heart Day is celebrated on Sept. 30, 2007. It was started by the World Heart Federation, an international, nongovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. The event has been an annual event for eight years.
About Primaris
Primaris is a nonprofit, health care consulting firm and contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to serve as the Quality Improvement Organization for Missouri. Primaris’ mission is to improve health care delivery and outcomes by promoting excellence, advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions for physicians, other providers, businesses, government, patients and consumers.
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Editor’s note: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveys cited are the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, which are accessible online at www.cdc.gov/brfss/.