The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) received its first award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for cardiovascular disease prevention and education. The five-year $325,000 grant calls on ADHS Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program to support public education, increase cardiovascular disease surveillance, and develop employer resources regarding healthy workplace policies. Arizona is one of 34 states to receive CDC funding for cardiovascular disease prevention efforts.

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, is the leading cause of death in Arizona. According to Arizona Vital Statistics, heart disease is the most commonly reported reason for hospital and emergency room visits in the state with the average hospital stay lasting over four days. As Arizona’s population ages, these figures are only expected to increase.

The funding primarily calls for education highlighting the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke. "It is imperative that we educate people on what they should look for now so that they know what to do when a heart attack or stroke occurs," says Nicole Olmstead, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program Manager at ADHS. "The more quickly medical care is received during or after an acute event, the better the outcome tends to be."

The funding will also be used for cardiovascular disease surveillance. "Increasing our data analysis and surveillance will help us determine where the greatest burden of cardiovascular disease in the state resides, so we can concentrate our efforts where it is needed most," Olmstead adds.

The ADHS Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program was established in 2001 to reduce cardiovascular disease in Arizona through education, prevention, data surveillance, and community partnerships. The program looks at the relationship between health education, health status and policy to determine the burden of cardiovascular disease in the state.

For more information on the ADHS Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program or the grant award, call 1-888-542-1886 or visit www.azcvd.gov.