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June
18, 2004
Little
Rock – The Arkansas Department of Health’s Cardiovascular Health Program was recently awarded a $980,000 Centers for Disease Control Basic Implementation Grant. The grant amount is an increase of $680,000 over the grant received in 2003.
Dr. Fay Boozman said, “This grant increase will allow for expansion of existing activities and will allow the awarding of community mini-grants totaling $260,000 statewide. These mini-grants can be for worksites, schools, municipalities and health care settings.” The grants will support interventions including, but not limited to, public awareness of heart attack and stroke warning signs and symptoms campaigns; worksite wellness programs; CPR training in schools; health education materials and classes on smoking cessation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diet and physical inactivity and health care provider education.
Heart disease and stroke are the #1 and #3 causes, respectively, of death in Arkansas. According to 2001 mortality data, heart disease was the most common cause of death in Arkansas, accounting for 30% of all deaths. Eight percent of all Arkansas deaths are due to stroke.
Heart disease and stroke share common risk factors – tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity/overweight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. About 30% of adults report having high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
For further information, contact Linda Faulkner, Program Coordinator, 501-661-2956.
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