Resources for Individuals and Patients
American Heart Month 2023
The resources, strategies, and plain language materials in this toolkit can help you communicate with people about the consequences of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its related conditions, such as high blood pressure.
Who Should Use This Toolkit?
This toolkit is designed for anyone who works with patients or individuals with CVD and its related conditions.
Use these resources to help prevent CVD in your communities.
How Do I Use This Toolkit?
- Share patient-friendly resources in your clinics and virtual waiting rooms.
- Link to plain language educational resources to help people learn about CVD and its related conditions.
- Copy social messages and graphics and share them with individuals and patients in your social networks.
- Use these tools in tandem with the actions recommended in Best Practices for Heart Disease and Stroke: A Guide to Effective Approaches and Strategies.
Tools and Resources for Patients
Explore and share handouts and patient-friendly web content that patients can use to help take control of their high blood pressure and live healthier lives.
- Managing My Blood Pressure [PDF – 173 KB]
Patients can use this printable list of questions to ask their health care team to help them manage their blood pressure. (Also available en español [PDF – 361 KB].) - My Blood Pressure Log [PDF – 611 KB]
People can use this printable log to keep track of their blood pressure measurements at home. (Also available in en español [PDF – 192 KB].) - My First Blood Pressure Visit [PDF – 105 KB]
Encourage patients to record important blood pressure–related information on this page before their appointments. (Also available en español [PDF – 351 KB].) - The Correct Way to Measure Blood Pressure
Share this graphic with patients, family, and friends to show them the correct way to measure blood pressure. (Also available in en español [PDF – 460 KB].)
- Pulse Check: Live to the Beat
Help patients learn how to manage their conditions, move more, eat healthier, stress less, and work with their health care team. - Alliance for the Million Hearts® Campaign Partner Toolkit
Share lifesaving messages to “Start Small. Live Big.” to encourage adults, particularly those age 55 and older, to get back on track with the small steps, such as scheduling their medical appointments, getting active, and eating healthy. - 5 Surprising Facts About High Blood Pressure
What people don’t know about high blood pressure could hurt them! Share this easy-to-read webpage with your patients. - Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) Monitoring: Resources for Patients
Share these resources with patients to show how SMBP monitoring, also known as home blood pressure monitoring, plus clinical support can help people with hypertension lower their blood pressure. - Measure Your Blood Pressure
Use this website to teach patients why they should measure their blood pressure regularly and where they can get it checked. - Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure
Help patients manage high blood pressure with this plain language content about making healthy choices and managing other health conditions. - Tips for Taking Blood Pressure Medicines as Directed (video)
Share this animated video developed by CDC to help people “stick to the ‘script!”
Kids and Teens
- High Blood Pressure in Kids and Teens
Share this webpage about what parents can do to help their kids maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure.
Pregnant People
- High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Use this website to help describe why high blood pressure during pregnancy should be avoided and what patients can do to manage high blood pressure before, during, and after pregnancy.
- Blood Pressure 101: Know the Basics
Share this quiz to help your networks brush up on their blood pressure basics. - Do You Know How to Measure Your Blood Pressure?
Do your patients know how to measure their blood pressure? Share this quiz.
Spread the Word
Share these social media messages with your followers. Don’t forget to tag @CDCHeart_Stroke in your posts and follow us on social media.
No matter where you are on your health journey, a healthier life is possible. Live to the beat of your own heart and prevent cardiovascular disease on your terms. Learn more about @Live to the Beat this #HeartMonth. livetothebeat.org
Black adults have twice the rate of death from hypertension-related disorders than White adults. Managing your blood pressure is essential for a healthy heart! Whether you are going to your first blood pressure visitor logging your blood pressure, @Live to the Beat has resources to help! https://bit.ly/AHM23PT7
Everyone’s journey to better heart health is unique. It’s about figuring out what works best for you. Pulse Check is a new resource from @Live to the Beat that helps you customize your own small steps for heart-healthy living. #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/AHM23PT11
Your heart health, your way. Pulse Check is a new, interactive resource from @Live to the Beat that helps you customize your own small steps for heart-healthy living. #HeartMonth Try it today: https://bit.ly/AHM23PT11
High blood pressure is often called the silent killer. You might not have symptoms, but it’s a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Monitoring your own blood pressure at home can help you keep your blood pressure under control. #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/2iFB6U5
Many people need to take medicine to help keep their blood pressure at healthy levels. Learn more about how these medicines work, their risks, and possible side effects. #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/2RL9ZKD
Taking care of your heart can be as simple as the ABCS. Talk with your health care team about Aspirin, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. Find out more about the ABCs from @MillionHeartsUS. #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/AHM23PT9
High blood pressure control is within your reach. Use these resources to talk to your health care team about how to reach your control goal. You’ve got this! #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/2TPde6k
Black adults have twice the rate of death from hypertension-related disorders compared with White adults. You can take charge of #hypertension control with these toolkits from @CDCHeart_Stroke. #HeartMonth cdc.gov/heartmonth
Your heart health, your way. Pulse Check is a new interactive resource from #LiveToTheBeat that helps you customize your own small steps for heart-healthy living. Try it today! #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/AHM23PT12
You can lower your risk for both diabetes and heart disease by living a healthy lifestyle and managing your blood sugar. Learn more about keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range from #LiveToTheBeat. #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/AHM23PT13
Taking care of your #heart can be as simple as the ABCS. Talk with your health care team about Aspirin, #BloodPressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/37XbNJB
High #BloodPressure control is within your reach. Use these @CDCHeart_Stroke resources to talk to your health care team about how to reach your control goal. You’ve got this! #HeartMonth https://bit.ly/2TPde6k
Social Media Graphics
Download these graphics to share on your social media accounts with patients, friends, and family.
Get Enough Physical Activity
Know Your Numbers
Work With Your Health Care Team
Take Control!
“Live to the Beat” Campaign Graphics
Download all the “Live to the Beat” campaign graphics files from Box to promote key messages on social media and in digital communications.
Review and share our materials for public health professionals to help your communities live healthier lives.
Implement our clinical tools and resources in your practice, and share the tools with your team.
