Blood Pressure In 2003, 24% of Alaskan adults reported they had been told they have high blood pressure. National surveys indicate that only one third of those with high blood pressure have it controlled. That means that 46,000 Alaskan's are at risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and other illness related to high blood pressure. These 46,000 Alaskans, and the people that help care for them, are the target audience for this year's campaign. The Control Your Blood Pressure… for Life campaign includes TV and radio spots that will be aired across the state beginning in May 2005. The campaign also includes the scripts for the spots in a coordinator kit for anyone that would like to develop their own local PSA.

Take Heart's Professional and Public Education committee joined together to include a professional piece to the statewide campaign. There is information for both pharmacists and health care providers. We hope you will share these materials with health professionals.

The coordinator's kit has materials for public education programs that include newsletter articles, talking points for presentations, taking an accurate blood pressure, recipes, as well as a crossword puzzles, bookmarks, flyers, and tracking cards. If you would like to order in quantity, please fill out the materials order form.

If you have any questions please contact Elizabeth Story at 1-888-465-3140. You can also fax in your form to (907) 465-2770.

Blood pressure control is not just an Alaskan issue. The National Institutes of Health has also developed some wonderful materials to help people across the country get better control of their blood pressure. The materials include some very good ideas for engaging businesses, civic organizations, faith based organizations, etc, as well as ideas for blood pressure related activities to hold in your communities http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/mission/download.htm.

Thanks for spreading the word and doing your part to improve the heart health of all Alaskans!