Appropriate and Balanced Heath Care

The general public relies on local health care providers to deliver timely and appropriate care in the detection and treatment of heart disease and its risk factors. Health care providers should be proactive in delivering an equal standard of care towards the prevention of heart disease and its risk factors.

A simple risk assessment, combined with a family history and basic health screening can determine one's risk for heart disease. Once this has taken place, a treatment plan including diet, physical activity and tobacco cessation (if necessary) counseling should follow. Counseling on personal lifestyle choices (diet, physical activity, and tobacco cessation) is often overlooked or not stressed for a variety of reasons.

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Health care providers should follow Clinical Practice Guidelines, which are systematically developed statements that assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. Current Clinical Guidelines for the Asthma, High Blood Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, and Overweight and Obesity can be accessed at the Clinical Practice Guidelines section of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Adult and Pediatric Cardiovascular Risk Reduction are in development.

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Appropriate and Balanced Heath Care The general public relies on local health care providers to deliver timely and appropriate care in the detection and treatment of heart disease and its risk factors. Health care providers should be proactive in delivering an equal standard of care towards the prevention of heart disease and its risk factors. A simple risk assessment, combined with a family history and basic health screening can determine one's risk for heart disease. Once this has taken place, a treatment plan including diet, physical activity and tobacco cessation (if necessary) counseling should follow. Counseling on personal lifestyle choices (diet, physical activity, and tobacco cessation) is often overlooked or not stressed for a variety of reasons. Clinical Practice Guidelines Health care providers should follow Clinical Practice Guidelines, which are systematically developed statements that assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. Current Clinical Guidelines for the Asthma, High Blood Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, and Overweight and Obesity can be accessed at the Clinical Practice Guidelines section of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Adult and Pediatric Cardiovascular Risk Reduction are in development.