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Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is a leading cause of serious illness and death, but many risk factors can be prevented or managed. Understanding your risk, making healthy choices, and recognizing the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke can help you take action early.
The Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Program works with healthcare systems, community organizations, and statewide partners to improve heart health across the state. Our cardiovascular program focuses on reducing risk factors, expanding access to blood pressure management resources, and supporting early detection of heart disease and stroke.
Know Your Heart Health
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), commonly known as heart disease, refers to a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. These conditions include:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD): When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart—often leading to a heart attack.
- Stroke: Occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic stroke).
- Heart failure: When the heart's ability to pump blood is reduced, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid buildup.
- Arrhythmias: Abnormal heart rhythms—such as atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, or tachycardia.
- Other conditions: Includes peripheral arterial disease, congenital heart defects, rheumatic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism
Risk Factors
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High chloesterol
- Diabetes
- Tobacco use
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy eating patterns
Learn what you can do to prevent or manage these risks by talking with your healthcare provider, attending community education programs, or using trusted online resources.
Why Blood Pressure Matters
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, yet it often has no symptoms. Managing blood pressure through home monitoring, medication adherence, physical activity, and healthy eating is one of the most effective ways to prevent heart disease and stroke.
Know the Warning Signs: Heart Attack & Stroke
Recognizing stroke symptoms is an important part of cardiovascular health. While blood pressure management is the most effective way to reduce stroke risk, it's also important to act quickly when symptoms appear. Remember to B.E. F.A.S.T.
B – Balance loss
E – Eye (vision) changes
F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech difficulty
T – Time to call 911
Heart attack symptoms may include chest pressure or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, or pain in the jaw, neck, back, or arm. If these symptoms appear, call 911 right away — fast treatment can save a life and help prevent long‑term disability.
Community Programs & Partnerships
Learning Collaboratives
The Cardiovascular Health Learning Collaboratives (LCs) connect healthcare professionals and community partners to share best practices and implement changes based on community-wide cardiovascular health data. They meet monthly and follow the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) rapid cycle improvement process to implement changes within cardiovascular health. Any community members or organizations interested in advancing heart health are welcome to join.
Interested in getting involved? Visit our Coalitions and Collaboratives page for more information.
Blood Pressure Screening Hubs
Nebraska has multiple free community blood pressure screening hubs and stations established through partnerships with the American Heart Association and local public health departments. These hubs offer convenient locations where community members can regularly check their blood pressure at no cost. To see screening locations across the state, access the detailed alphabetized location list in the downloadable document.
Health Coaches for Hypertension Control (HCHC)
Health Coaches for Hypertension Control (HCHC), also called Living Well with High Blood Pressure or Love Your Heart, is an 8-week, evidence-based program developed by Clemson University for individuals with high blood pressure or who are at risk of developing high blood pressure.
Led by trained health coaches, participants learn how to accurately measure their own blood pressure and make practical changes to improve their heart health, including healthy eating, tobacco cessation, physical activity, medication management, and stress management. This program has been shown to help participants improve blood pressure control and build healthier long‑term habits. Program goals include:
- Increasing knowledge about hypertension self-management
- Increasing the stage of readiness to make lifestyle changes required for successful self-management
- Promoting behavior changes in nutrition, physical activity, stress management, tobacco use, and medication management
Find a Workshop and Enroll Today!
Are you a community partner interested in hosting HCHC, or someone who would like to learn more about the program? Contact Master Trainer Julie Nelson at julie@elvphd.ne.gov or Melissa Nemec at melissa@elvphd.ne.gov to learn more about HCHC and training opportunities.
Resources & Fact Sheets
Visit our resources page to help you understand and manage cardiovascular health, including information about:- Blood pressure and hypertension
- Heart disease prevention
- Stroke prevention and awareness
- Physical activity and healthy eating
- Tobacco cessation
- Medication management
- Stress management
To learn more about how Heart Disease affects Nebraskans, check out these fact sheets:
For Healthcare & Community Providers
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