American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month, and South Carolinians are urged to adopt healthy lifestyle habits that can help reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is South Carolina’s leading killer for both men and women among all racial and ethnic groups. During 2007, 8,983 South Carolinians died from heart disease, and 2,460 of our state’s citizens died of stroke.
What can you do to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke?
- make healthy food choices
- lower sodium intake
- make physical activity a part of your daily routine
Consumption of excess dietary sodium contributes to excessive levels of high blood pressure, and premature deaths from heart attack and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reducing the average sodium intake to 2,300 mg/day might reduce cases of high blood pressure by 11 million and save $18 billion in health care costs. One out of every three adults in South Carolina has high blood pressure, and people with high blood pressure have three to four times the risk of developing heart disease than those without high blood pressure.
In the section below, we provide reports, data, and statistics detailing the impact of cardiovascular disease on South Carolina. More resources will be added to this section as they become available, so be sure to check back often.
Downloadable Education Materials
Blood Pressure/Hypertension
- Your Guide to Blood Pressure (pdf)
- What Is High Blood Pressure? (pdf)
- What is high blood pressure medicine? (pdf)
HDSP-Related Materials
- Become a link in the chain of survival (pdf)
- How can I make my lifestyle healthier? (pdf)
- Know Your Health Protect Your Heart (tracker) (pdf)
- State of the Heart/Stroke in SC (pdf)
- State of the Heart for African-Americans/Stroke Among African-Americans in SC (pdf)
- State of the Heart for Women/Stroke Among Women in SC (pdf)
- South Carolina Data and Reports
HDSP-Related Reports
- The Burden Of Heart Disease And Stroke In South Carolina (pdf)
- Environmental and Policy Indicators for Cardiovascular Health: Data Sources in South Carolina (pdf)
- South Carolina Cardiovascular Health State Plan (pdf)
Heart Attack
Mortality Rate Data
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Cardiovascular Disease in South Carolina for Blacks (2000-2004) (pdf)
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Cardiovascular Disease in South Carolina for Whites (2000-2004) (pdf)
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Coronary Heart Disease in South Carolina (2000-2004) (pdf)
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Coronary Heart Disease in South Carolina for Blacks (2000-2004) (pdf)
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Stroke in SC (2000 - 2004) (pdf)
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Stroke in SC for African-Americans (2000 - 2004) (pdf)
- Trends in Mortality Rates for Stroke in SC for Whites (2000 - 2004) (pdf)
Nutrition
- How can I cook healthfully? (pdf)
- How Do I Change Recipes? (pdf)
- How do I read food labels? (pdf)
- Recipes for Heart Health (pdf)
- Spice Up Your Life: Eat Less Salt and Sodium (pdf)
- What about eating out? (pdf)
Physical Activity
- Energize Yourself (pdf)
- How can physical activity become a way of life? (pdf)
- Why Should I Be Physically Active? (pdf)
Smoking Cessation
Spanish Materials
- Cut Down on Fat (pdf)
- Cut Down on Salt (pdf)
- Kick the Smoking Habit (pdf)
- Stay Active & Feel Better (pdf)
Stroke
- Let's Talk About Changes Caused by Stroke (pdf)
- Let's Talk About Children and Stroke (pdf)
- Let's Talk About Hemorrhagic Strokes and Their Causes (pdf)
- Let's Talk About Ischemic Strokes and Their Causes (pdf)
- Let's Talk About Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Stroke (pdf)
- Let's Talk About Risk Factors for Stroke (pdf)
- Let's Talk About Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs (pdf)
- Warning Signs of Stroke (pdf)
Weight Loss