For Immediate Release:
January 2, 2007

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

Missouri develops new plan to fight heart disease and stroke

Statewide effort aims to prevent disability and death

A new state plan to reduce heart disease and stroke in Missouri was unveiled today by Gov. Matt Blunt. The five-year plan was developed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and more than 40 experts from the health care industry throughout Missouri.

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is Missouri’s leading cause of death.

“Heart disease and stroke cause far too much death and disability in our state,” Blunt said. “This new
plan is an important step toward improving the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of Missourians.”

The Missouri Plan for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention outlines goals and objectives to decrease the impact of cardiovascular disease on Missouri residents. The plan also includes information about the health and financial burden of heart disease and stroke in Missouri, as well as, preventing and treating the risk factors for the disease.

Nationwide, Missouri ranks among the states with the highest death rate for cardiovascular disease. In 2002, the state’s heart disease mortality rate was 10th worst and stroke mortality was 13th worst in the United States. Nearly 19,000 Missourians died from heart disease and stroke in 2004.

Heart disease and stroke also have a huge economic impact on Missouri. Hospitalization charges resulting from heart disease and stroke totaled nearly $3.5 billion in 2003.

Although some risk factors for heart disease and stroke – such as age, ethnicity and family health history – cannot be controlled, other risk factors are related to lifestyle choices.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, changes in lifestyle can help prevent a majority of heart disease and stroke incidents. Those lifestyle changes include quitting tobacco use, controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol, participating in physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight.

The Missouri Plan for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention describes strategies currently under way to address cardiovascular risk factors. Those efforts involve collaboration between the Missouri Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program and partnering organizations in communities across the state.

Representatives from the state health department, health-related associations and organizations, emergency medical services, and doctors and nurses who serve on the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Advisory Board developed Missouri’s plan during 2004 and 2005.

“By involving such a diverse group of health experts from throughout Missouri, this plan reflects the many areas of expertise needed to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke,” Blunt said.

The plan can be found at: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/HeartandStroke/Heart&StrokePlan.pdf.

More information about heart disease and stroke can be found at: www.dhss.mo.gov/HeartDisease/ or www.dhss.mo.gov/Stroke/.