#VitalsAreVITAL

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease and other related disorders (i.e., kidney disease, diabetes, and stroke) are also leading causes of morbidity and disability in the United States. Patients diagnosed with or at risk for cardiovascular disease often seek the services of a physical therapist and may not have been previously screened. This may be especially true in settings, such as in outpatient orthopedics, where patients are least likely to have close physiologic monitoring and may not be referred directly from a physician. Research has shown that risk factors for low back pain and osteoarthritis, some of the most common conditions treated by physical therapists, are nearly identical to those for cardiovascular disease. Early detection of heart disease and risk factors, specifically elevated blood pressure (hypertension), can significantly lower mortality, morbidity and health care costs. As a doctoring profession, and a potential first entry point into the healthcare system, medical screening is a vital component of the clinical examination to ensure safety, appropriate referral to other allied health professionals, selection of interventions, and timely medical management. Simply put, #VitalsAreVITAL.