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FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION APPLAUDS RELEASE OF CLINICAL ADVISORY ON SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
- National Alliance Supports High Blood Pressure Education Campaign -
WASHINGTON, DC May 8, 2000 The recent clinical advisory from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program (NHBPEP), recommending that systolic blood pressure be emphasized in the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure, is enthusiastically supported by From Awareness to Action: The National Alliance to Reach Blood Pressure Goals, a coalition of more than 20 leading medical, professional, patient and government organizations launched in April.
"To see this kind of attention to high blood pressure underscores the national importance of this healthcare issue," 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.
Release of the clinical advisory begins a major campaign by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) -- which coordinates the NHBPEP -- to raise awareness on the dangers of high systolic blood pressure, which will include educational elements for the public, health professionals, and community organizations.
"There is an urgent and immediate need in this country for a strong collaborative effort to fight the problem of uncontrolled hypertension," continued Dr. Hill. "The From Awareness to Action organizations know that winning the battle will require a broad range of education and intervention programs, so we are excited by the launch of this high-profile campaign from NHLBI."
The overall mission of From Awareness to Action is to reduce death and disability caused by complications from high blood pressure. Alliance members are passionate about the need to reach blood pressure goals and committed to developing a series of national and grassroots programs that 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. For more information on From Awareness to Action: The National Alliance to Reach Blood Pressure Goals, visit www.fromatoa.org.
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From Awareness to Action is funded and supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb,
which has a long-standing commitment to cardiovascular health
as part of its mission to extend and enhance human life.
