Although an estimated 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable, one person dies every 36 seconds of heart disease in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Heart disease is also the leading cause of death in Texas, Dallas County and across the country. February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.
Hypertension is often called a “silent” disease because many people with high blood pressure have no symptoms from it, and many people with hypertension don’t even know they have it. Even without symptoms, high blood pressure increases someone’s risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, eye disease and kidney disease. Most people with hypertension should be treated to achieve a systolic blood pressure (top number) under 130 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) under 80 mmHg.
“Multiple safe, affordable medications are available to treat hypertension, but many people may need more than one medication to achieve blood pressure control. Fortunately, with proper treatment of high blood pressure, we can dramatically lower someone’s risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease,” said Ann Marie Navar, MD, Cardiologist at Parkland Health and Associate Professor of Cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Regrettably, according to the CDC only 1 in 4 (24%) of people with hypertension have their condition under control. According to Dr. Navar, control of blood pressure starts with awareness of the condition. People should check their blood pressure regularly with their primary care doctor at routine visits. Many at risk for hypertension or who have borderline blood pressure in clinic may be recommended to also check their blood pressure at home. Once diagnosed, home measurement can also help a person track how well their medications are working, and if adjustments to medications are needed.
Differences in risk factor burden in the community can also contribute to disparities in cardiovascular disease. Parkland tracks Dallas County’s residents’ health through the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Data from the CHNA has shown that non-Hispanic Black and African American persons in Dallas County have the highest rates of heart disease death among any race or ethnic group.
The CHNA also helps Parkland providers and public health officials design programs and outreach efforts to help improve risk factor control in at-risk communities. Parkland has 16 Community Oriented Primary Care health centers (COPCs), five school-based clinics and mobile units strategically placed in Dallas County’s historically underserved areas to increase access to care and screenings.
“Dallas is a densely populated county. To notice improvements in the groups of patients served from the priority ZIP Codes that are underserved is a huge accomplishment for us, but our work is never done,” said Jessica Hernandez, Vice President of Community Integrated Health at Parkland. “While it will take many more years to truly notice the change in our patient population, it is comforting to know that the committed resource is making a difference by helping individuals and families achieve improved health.”
For example, Parkland providers and county health officials have learned that the proportion of Hispanic and Black/African American women who reside in the southern region of Dallas County who have diabetes and chronic hypertension experience worse prenatal and postpartum outcomes than women who reside in other sectors of the county. Women in this region also face barriers to care due to the limited physical clinic availability.
However, thanks to the Parkland-sponsored eMCAP program (Extending Maternal Care After Pregnancy), which was created in response to the 2019 CHNA, health services are offered to at-risk women of color in the first year after giving birth. The program helps women navigate systems of care to get those needs met including scheduling appointments, maintaining insurance coverage, obtaining infant care supplies, and helping with transportation. In the past, Parkland concentrated its efforts on helping moms receive prenatal care, with significant results. Since the program launched in 2019, 97% of women delivering at Parkland had prenatal care within our system of care. With the concerns about postpartum deaths up to a year after delivery, the focus has shifted to address healthcare and social and economic challenges facing women after they give birth.
That is one of many reasons Parkland offers a variety of health and education screenings and community resources in several neighborhoods across Dallas County through the Access to Care & Coverage Program. All services at the community pop-ups are at no cost to the individual. Hours and days of operation at each pop-up vary:
- Janie C. Turner Recreation Center, 6424 Elam Rd., Dallas, 75217, Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
- John C. Phelps Recreation Center, 3030 Tips Blvd., Dallas, 75216, Every 4th Thursday, 3:30-6 p.m.
- DHA Buckeye Commons, 6676 Buckeye Commons Way, Dallas, 75215, Every Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon
- Inspired Vision Compassion Center, 2019 N. Masters Dr., Dallas, 75217, Every Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- CitySquare, 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd., Dallas, 75226, Every Wednesday, 9 a.m.-noon
- DHA Park Manor, 3333 Edgewood St., Dallas, 75215, Every Thursday, 1-4 p.m.
- Catholic Charities Marillac Community Center, 2483 Lapsley St., Dallas, 75212, Every Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Bonton Farms, 2612 Valentine St., Dallas, 75215, Every 1st Friday, 2-4 p.m. *we are in the green mobile unit
