American Heart Month: How Pharmacists Can Strengthen Cardiovascular Prevention Efforts

In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Sarah Nelson, PharmD, clinical pharmacy specialist at UPMC Health Plan, discussed the critical role pharmacists play in advancing cardiovascular health during American Heart Month and beyond. Nelson emphasized that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, yet much of the associated risk is preventable through consistent lifestyle modification and optimized medication management—areas where pharmacists are uniquely positioned to intervene due to their frequent patient interactions.

Nelson highlighted lifestyle counseling as a foundational responsibility for pharmacists, noting the importance of reinforcing healthy dietary patterns, regular physical activity, smoking cessation, stress management, and adequate sleep. She also stressed the need to connect patients with community and health plan resources that support sustainable behavior change. In addition to lifestyle education, Nelson underscored the pharmacist’s role in assessing medication adherence, identifying barriers to compliance, and ensuring patients understand the purpose, proper use, and potential adverse effects of their cardiovascular therapies.

From a population health perspective, Nelson identified commonly encountered cardiovascular risk factors in the health plan setting, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use. However, she cautioned that several contributors to cardiovascular risk are frequently overlooked, such as social determinants of health, rising risk among younger patients, women, and individuals with mental health conditions, as well as environmental and behavioral factors. She also noted that inappropriate or excessive use of certain over-the-counter medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and decongestants, may adversely affect cardiovascular outcomes.

To proactively identify high-risk patients, Nelson recommended leveraging repeated blood pressure readings, laboratory trends, and chronic disease markers, as well as using validated tools such as the PREVENT risk calculator included in the 2025 ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines. She emphasized that pharmacists can intervene by identifying therapy gaps, recommending evidence-based treatment optimization, and supporting patients through ongoing follow-up, adherence programs, and home monitoring strategies. Collectively, these efforts position pharmacists as essential partners in preventing cardiovascular events and improving long-term outcomes.