Georgia Coastal Health District

It’s the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It costs billions of dollars each year in terms of healthcare. In a lot of cases, it is totally preventable. So what is it and are you at risk?
“It” is cardiovascular disease and includes heart disease stroke and high blood pressure.

Do you know someone who has had a heart attack or stroke? Your father, mother, husband, wife, friend, or colleague? You’re not alone. Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States, which means heart disease causes 1 of every 3 deaths in the country. Americans suffer more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes each year, and everyday 2,200 people die from cardiovascular disease. And heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of disability in our country–keeping more than 3 million people from enjoying the quality of life they’d like. Million Hearts™, which launched in September 2011, was created to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. This public-private national initiative is bringing together a wide range of heart disease and stroke prevention programs, policies, and activities to raise awareness about what can be done to prevent heart disease and stroke in our nation.
We are all at risk. People of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities can have a heart attack or stroke. However, certain groups–African Americans, people between the ages of 40 and 60, and women–are at higher risk. But many of the people who are at high risk for heart attack or stroke don’t know it. Each of us can take steps to achieve the goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years.
To find out if you’re at increased risk, check out the Million Hearts website and tools.
Be one in a Million Hearts™ by taking the pledge to:
• Prevent heart disease and stroke in your family by understanding the risks
• Get up and get active by exercising for 30 minutes on most days of the week
• Know your ABCS: Appropriate Aspirin Therapy, Blood Pressure Control, Cholesterol Management, and Smoking Cessation
• Stay strong by eating a heart-healthy diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, saturated and trans fats, and cholesterol
• Take control of your heart health by following your doctor’s instructions for medications and treatment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are the co-leaders of Million Hearts™ within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They work alongside other federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Will you be one in a Million Hearts™? Visit http://millionhearts.hhs.gov to take the pledge to save a heart today. A Million Hearts™ begins with you!