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Football Legend
Teams With Leading Cardiologist to Educate Public As New
National Guidelines Urge More Aggressive Treatment of the
Disease
Joe Montana, the former NFL quarterback, is motivating
people to victory over high blood pressure, which officials
say is a national health crisis, even among the nearly 34
million people who already take medication for the disease.
Montana, who has high blood pressure, is joining Dr. James
M. Rippe in a new public education campaign called "Take The
Pressure Off...With Better Blood Pressure Control." The
purpose of the campaign, which is sponsored by Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Corporation, is to raise awareness that
blood pressure levels above 120/80 mm Hg increase the risk
of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. The initiative's
message for those taking medication for high blood pressure
is that their blood pressure still may not be low enough.
This is the case for 47 percent (nearly 16 million) of
patients who take medication for the disease.
To help people lower blood pressure to healthy levels,
Montana and Rippe are offering information, tools and
support created especially for those already taking
medication for high blood pressure.
takethepressureoff.com, offers additional information and
helps users assess their blood pressure risk.
Source: Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Corporation
August 2003
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