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H.E.F. Inc.
Box 651 • Scarsdale, NY 10583 |
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 he Hypertension Education Foundation, Inc. (HEF) was incorporated in 1977 for the purpose of increasing both physician and the general public's awareness of the problems of treatment and promoting research and teaching efforts in the field of hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a disease that affects more than 55 million Americans and is the most common reason for adults to visit physicians. Prior to the availability of effective treatment, strokes, heart failure, heart attacks, and kidney failure were common in people with elevated blood pressure. In recent years these have been dramatically reduced, largely as a result of more effective treatment, as the availability of newer medications simplified therapy.
HEF has been active in informing the general public about the consequences of untreated high blood pressure, available treatment, recent data on lifestyle interventions, and why blood pressure should be lowered to below 140/90 mm Hg or as close to an ideal level of 120/80 mm Hg as possible. HEF has also been active in promoting methods to improve physician management of this disease.
Despite national efforts and those of HEF, only about 60% of people with high blood pressure are receiving treatment and only about 40% are being adequately treated. HEF is dedicated to increasing these numbers. It has supported hypertension fellowships at the Yale University School of Medicine and has been involved in research projects dealing with the differences between black and white hypertensives. It has generated and distributed pamphlets and booklets to the general public. Two of these ("High Blood Pressure: What You Should Know About It and What You Can Do To Help Your Doctor Treat It" and "High Blood Pressure and Diabetes: Control Them and Live Longer") have been distributed in quantity on request and through the Hypertensionfoundation.org web site. HEF has designed and produced slide kits for physicians and has provided assistance in the preparation of numerous scientific articles published in medical journals, such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, the New England Journal of Medicine, etc. In addition, HEF has partially supported the publication of several books for physicians, including Clinical Management of Hypertension (now in its 7th edition) and The Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Diabetes (in its 2nd edition).
HEF has worked in cooperation with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the American Society of Hypertension since 1997 to organize and sponsor symposia on the management of hypertension that have been held throughout the country. Six to eight symposia have been held each year in different cities throughout the U.S. for physicians and other health care personnel. These symposia have featured lectures by prominent experts in the field of hypertension. More than 50 symposia featuring more than 90 experts in hypertension have been presented. HEF has organized expert panels to discuss various aspects of heart disease prevention. These discussions have been published in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension
From time to time HEF has made available various publications and position papers as well as video presentations via the Internet by leading authorities on the treatment of hypertension. Telecasts of information from Joint National Committee guidelines for the management of hypertension have been made available on the HEF web site. Annual telecasts of new developments in hypertension management are planned. Editorial and roundtable discussions that have been published in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, the official journal of the American Society of Hypertension, are reprinted regularly on the HEF web site.
Advisories as to what the public can do to help their physicians treat elevated blood pressure levels more effectively have also been updated periodically.
The President of HEF is Marvin Moser, M.D., FACP, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Moser has chaired several national committees that have established guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. He is the author of more than 500 scientific publications and 11 books and has lectured extensively both in the U.S. and abroad. He is the Editor in Chief of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
Board of Directors includes: Marvin Moser, M.D., President, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Thomas Sobol, former New York State Superintendent of Schools; Warren Sinsheimer, attorney and former Chairman of Plessey Corp. North America; Michael Weber, M.D., a prominent hypertension expert; Thomas Pickering, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Columbia University School of Medicine; Donald Stone, former Vice Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange; Kenneth D. Weiser, Treasurer, accountant and member of the Board of Trustees, Montefiore Hospital, NYC; Thomas Lewyn, an attorney and a Senior Partner of Simpson Thatcher in NYC; and Franklin Zimmerman, M.D., a cardiologist in Briarcliff Manor, NY. |
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