About the National Hypertension Control Initiative

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically highlighted social inequities in health. In response, the American Heart Association launched the National Hypertension Control Initiative, an evidence-based, community-driven effort to reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, a condition that nearly half of adult Americans are living with. Many of them don’t even know it.

Creating Awareness and Preventative Care

OUTREACH

COLLABORATION

TRAINING

Through the NHCI, the American Heart Association raises awareness of high blood pressure and promotes prevention of it through overlapping community approaches.

  • Reaching the public and patients with awareness, counseling and self-monitoring devices to successfully control their blood pressure in collaboration with their physicians Incorporating community access and resources for non-clinical screening and wrap-around support
  • Training healthcare professionals on accurate measurements and best practices to achieve control
  • Building systems capacity and streamlining processes in health care clinics to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment
  • Working with community-based organizations to raise awareness in settings outside of the clinic

It’s important for everyone to pay attention to their blood pressure numbers. High blood pressure is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for heart disease and stroke. This can contribute to worse outcomes for people who contract COVID-19.

Keep reading to learn more about us and our efforts to strengthen and extend the reach of blood pressure knowledge and tools in communities affected by uncontrolled high blood pressure.


Woman video chatting with doctor

Pre-existing social conditions, such as access to quality health care, jobs, education and housing, that influence differences in the health status of individuals and communities.


Group of people gathering and dancing

Our Collaborators for Healthy Blood Pressure

The Office of Minority Health focuses on eliminating health disparities and improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities. Its priorities include supporting programs that promote health equity, better-utilizing community health workers in communities of color and encouraging cultural competence among health care professionals.

Visit Their Site

Two women smiling and hugging

The Bureau of Primary Health Care administers the program that funds almost 1,400 health centers in all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

These centers provide accessible, affordable, high-quality primary care to nearly 30 million patients a year, regardless of their ability to pay.

Visit Their Site

Mixed race nurse using laptop