January 2019
Help Your Patients Understand Blood Pressure Results
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that while approximately 75 million people have high blood pressure, only 54 percent of patients diagnosed with hypertension have their blood pressure under control.1 High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death for Americans.1 With your continued help, we can work together to help improve member education regarding blood pressure control and blood pressure readings.
Blue Cross Community Health PlansSM (BCCHPSM) and Blue Cross Community MMAI (Medicare-Medicaid Plan)SM members recently received a hypertension postcard that may be a useful tool to distribute to your patients. These educational materials may help them learn about ways to control blood pressure and what blood pressure numbers are healthy. The postcards are available in English and Spanish and can be printed from the Related Resources section of the Clinical Practice Guidelines page.
1High Blood Pressure. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/index.htm#
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own best medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the best course of treatment.