The Cardiovascular Health (CVH) Program's mission is to provide leadership in the state of Alabama to prevent death and disability from heart disease and stroke, eliminate disparities in health and health care, and work with its many partners to fully implement a plan focusing on policy and system changes in the worksite, healthcare, and community settings.

Download the 2010 Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke. 

ABCS

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking continue to put more people at risk for heart disease and stroke. To address these risk factors, CVH is focusing on the ABCS of cardiovascular disease prevention.

A = Aspirin Use
Ask your provider about taking:

• One baby aspirin (81 mg) everyday, or 
• One regular aspirin (325 mg) every other day.

B = Blood Pressure

• Normal blood pressure should be at or below 120/80.
• Reduce your sodium consumption. 

C = Cholesterol
Ask your provider about how often to check your cholesterol. 

• Normal total cholesterol levels should be below 200. 
• LDL (bad cholesterol) should be below 100.

S = Smoking Cessation
Research shows using a quitline with medication increases abstinence rates.  Ask your provider about quitting, or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit the Alabama Quitline for more details.

FAST

Stroke is an emergency. If you are among the millions of Americans who are not yet familiar with the symptoms of stroke, here is a quick and easy way to remember how to recognize a stroke when it happens to someone you know. Remember the word FAST.

F = Facial Weakness
Can the person smile? Have their mouths or eyes drooped?

A = Arm Weakness
Can the person raise both arms? Is one arm slightly lower?

S = Speech/Sight Difficulty
Can the person speak or see clearly and understand what you say?

T = Time to Act
Time loss is brain lost. Call 9-1-1.

Visit About Us for more information relating to the Cardiovascular Health Program.