Georgia Health Officials Joining “Million Hearts Initiative”

The state of Georgia is taking part in a national initiative to try and reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes.

It is called the Million Hearts Initiative and the goal is to prevent a million heart attacks or strokes by 2017.

Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald said the Center for Disease Control is starting this program because heart attacks and strokes are many times preventable through actions earlier in life.

“This is something that is not like cancer, not like measles, not something you get,” said Dr. Fitzgerald. “It is something that is very dependent on what we do on a day-to-day basis.”

To do that, the Million Hearts initiative will focus, coordinate, and enhance cardiovascular disease prevention activities across the public and private sectors.

Dr. Fitzgerald said the goal is to get people to understand the risk factors and lead healthier lifestyles.

She said first, officials are encouraging people to know their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, numbers that serve as early indicators of heart problems.

Then, she said it is about educating people about how to live a healthier lifestyle.

“First, and I think most important, is physical exercise,” said Dr. Fitzgerald. “Studies show that if you are a skinny couch potato, you are probably going to die earlier than if you have a little weight on you, but you exercise every day.”

She said the second thing is to eat better.

“If you are making sure has half of it fruits and vegetables, you are on the right track,” said Dr. Fitzgerald.

Dr. Fitzgerald said that the state health department’s role in the Million Hearts initiative is one of mainly education.

For more information, people can go to their local health department or visit www.dph.georgia.gov.