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Implement activities into lesson plans that teach children how to maintain a healthy heart. Teaching children about choices from a young age may prevent chronic disease in the future. ... | Read More

In order to improve patient adherence to medication for high blood pressure, the American Pharmacists Association launched Project ImPACT (Improve Persistence and Compliance with Therapy) for hypertension in 2011 to foster collaboration between patients, physicians, and pharmacists that leads to improved adherence and maximum benefit for the patient's heart health. Project ImPACT provides patients with wireless at-home blood pressure monitors and pharmacists in ambulatory care settings can access the readings when patients come in to pick up their medication. These visits provide an opportunity to check for adherence to medications, monitor for progress and side-effects, set on-going goals for treatment, and resolve any problems that may arise. Since patients may only see their doctor once a year, these visits with the pharmacist allow follow-up throughout the year. The pharmacist is also able to provide the physician with the blood pressure readings from these mini-visits, painting a better picture of a patient's progress during the year. A study of Project ImPACT: Hypertension is being conducted now - results expected in 2012. ... | Read More

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a national leader in pediatric health care, has launched a program called Strong4Life to address the growing number of children with diseases once seen only in adults-such as hypertension, liver and kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. The program is focused around four simple ideas to help families stay healthy - Eat Right, Be Active, Get Support and Have Fun. The program includes a campaign to increase awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic through billboards, ads and commercials throughout Atlanta as well as an interactive website. The online tool provides parents and families with more information on obesity and the related health risks, tips on how families can partner with their physician to improve a child's health through weight loss, and a variety of simple ideas and tips for parents on how to stop obesity in their own home. ... | Read More

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a national leader in pediatric health care, has launched a program called Strong4Life to address the growing number of children with diseases once seen only in adults-such as hypertension, liver and kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. The program is focused around four simple ideas to help families stay healthy - Eat Right, Be Active, Get Support and Have Fun. The program includes a campaign to increase awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic through billboards, ads and commercials throughout Atlanta as well as an interactive website. The online tool provides parents and families with more information on obesity and the related health risks, tips on how families can partner with their physician to improve a child's health through weight loss, and a variety of simple ideas and tips for parents on how to stop obesity in their own home. ... | Read More

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a national leader in pediatric health care, has launched a program called Strong4Life to address the growing number of children with diseases once seen only in adults-such as hypertension, liver and kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. The program is focused around four simple ideas to help families stay healthy - Eat Right, Be Active, Get Support and Have Fun. The program includes a campaign to increase awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic through billboards, ads and commercials throughout Atlanta as well as an interactive website. The online tool provides parents and families with more information on obesity and the related health risks, tips on how families can partner with their physician to improve a child's health through weight loss, and a variety of simple ideas and tips for parents on how to stop obesity in their own home. ... | Read More

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a national leader in pediatric health care, has launched a program called Strong4Life to address the growing number of children with diseases once seen only in adults-such as hypertension, liver and kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. The program is focused around four simple ideas to help families stay healthy - Eat Right, Be Active, Get Support and Have Fun. The program includes a campaign to increase awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic through billboards, ads and commercials throughout Atlanta as well as an interactive website. The online tool provides parents and families with more information on obesity and the related health risks, tips on how families can partner with their physician to improve a child's health through weight loss, and a variety of simple ideas and tips for parents on how to stop obesity in their own home. ... | Read More

Recording the illnesses of your parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict disorders you may be at risk of developing and actions that may reduce your risk. The "My Family Health Portrait" is a web-based tool that helps users organize family history information and then print it out for presentation to their family doctor. ... | Read More

It is important for people with diabetes to appropriately manage their disease. Project Dulce attempts to improve self management by offering health promotion classes to uninsured, underinsured and low income populations. This program educates participants on ways to successfully manage their diabetes in a 12 week class while also offering resources that will assist participants in health behavior changes. ... | Read More

Project Dulce is a health promotion program for people diagnosed with diabetes. The program created targeted health promotion classes for "uninsured, underinsured and low income populations." Patients were taught to self manage their diabetes through a 12 week class taught in community. ... | Read More

Most of the U.S. population consumes more salt than daily guidelines recommend. Consumption of excess salt raises blood pressure and high blood pressure can lead to stroke and heart disease. A study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report identified 10 food categories that comprised nearly 50% of sodium consumption in the study population: bread and rolls, cold cuts/cured meats, pizza, poultry, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pasta mixed dishes, meat mixed dishes, and savory snacks. The study also found that mean sodium consumption per calorie consumed was significantly greater for foods and beverages obtained from fast food/pizza or other restaurants versus stores. The report suggests that food manufacturers and restaurants can strive to reduce excess sodium added to foods, states and localities can implement policies to reduce sodium in foods served in institutional settings (e.g., schools, child care settings, and government cafeterias) and clinicians can counsel most patients to check food labels and select foods lower in sodium. ... | Read More