Dr. Madeline R. Sterling, Associate Professor of Medicine in the division of General Internal Medicine and clinician at Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates (WCIMA), recently released a scientific statement affirming the efficacy of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Life’s Essential 8. The statement stems from Dr. Sterling’s three-year, $400,000 grant from the AHA to rest and implement behavior health interventions among home health aides to improve their cardiovascular health and overall well-being.
“Primary care plays a central role in people’s health and health care across their lifetime,” said Dr. Sterling. Recent data highlights the importance of primary care, showing it is more effective than specialty care in addressing health behaviors and factors outlined in cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the United States.
Many of the areas within Life’s Essential 8 can be modified through behavioral changes or medication, and primary care clinicians routinely screen for, diagnose, and treat conditions such as high blood pressure, blood sugar, and high cholesterol. Smoking cessation and weight management are also areas where primary care plays a crucial role, with these interventions being more commonly implemented in primary care settings compared to specialty care.
Effective primary care is person-centered, team-based, and designed to achieve better health at lower costs. Clinicians in primary care settings often counsel patients on heart-healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diets, and help them adopt physical activity plans. They also address nicotine exposure, poor sleep, and obesity, all of which are critical factors in managing cardiovascular health. Screening for risk factors like high blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol is an essential aspect of primary care, which has been proven to improve glycemic control and manage conditions such as high blood pressure effectively.
Related Links: Dr. Madeline Sterling Awarded American Heart Association Grant to Improve Cardiovascular Health of Home Health Aides