Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women over the age of 65. It is also among the most common and costly chronic conditions affecting this age group. Mountain-Pacific Quality Health works with primary care providers to help improve and spread best preventi ve practices. Medicare beneficiaries with increased risk for heart disease can work with their providers to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels through diet, exercise or, if necessary, medication. Medicare provides coverage for cardiovascular screening tests. Read more about heart disease in the United States. Be One in a Million Hearts Unfortunately, most of us have or know someone who has had heart disease or suffered a stroke. Learn how you can be One in a Million Hearts and fight back against heart disease and stroke.

Get the Facts about High Blood Pressure Check out these educational resources: Videos High Blood Pressure Basics Treating High Blood Pressure Vital Signs: Getting Blood Pressure Under Control Medicare & You: High Blood Pressure and Osteoporosis Handouts Know the Facts about High Blood Pressure High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet Pulmonary Hypertension Fact Sheet

Blood pressure
About one in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not realize they have it. The only way to detect high blood pressure is to have it measured by a health care professional. Mountain-Pacific Quality Health is working with health care providers, medical experts and community partners to improve preventive measures for heart disease, including blood pressure control. Click here to learn more about blood pressure problems in the United States.

Lipid management
Lipids are nutrients that are used for energy, joints and brain function and should be included in a person’s diet. However, most lipids are kinds of fats. High levels can cause hardening of the arteries and/or interfere with blood flow. Lipid tests separate out lipoproteins, a kind of cholesterol, so the level can be measured. An important part of routine, preventive health care, lipid tests can help determine whether dietary changes or medication is necessary to avoid risk factors that could lead to heart attacks. 

Aspirin use
Aspirin works to reduce pain and inflammation and has been doing so for more than a century. However, in the last several decades, aspirin has also been used to prevent and/or manage heart disease. It inhibits blood clots and blocks an enzyme that signals the brain of an injury to trigger the feeling of pain. Research has shown that regular aspirin use has reduced the number of deaths in people over the age of 65 who have heart disease or at a high risk of experiencing strokes or heart attacks.

However, aspirin therapy is not for everyone. Starting or stopping daily aspirin therapy should only be done under the consultation of a physician. Mountain-Pacific works with medical experts and health care professionals to improve preventive measures and strategies for heart disease, including the use of aspirin therapy.

Smoking cessation
Smoking injures blood vessels and speeds up the hardening of arteries. About one in five of all deaths from heart disease in the U.S. every year are directly related to cigarette smoking. Mountain-Pacific Quality Health is working with health care providers, medical experts and community partners to improve preventive measures for heart disease, including smoking cessation counseling.