Taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. this information is very important for us to share:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. “Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities of someone they love and care for—a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse. With more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke.”
– Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
February is American Heart Month, and unfortunately, most of us know someone who has had heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities. Cardiovascular disease is also very expensive—together heart disease and stroke hospitalizations in 2010 cost the nation more than $444 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity. However, we can fight back against heart disease and stroke. CDC and other parts of the US government have launched Million Hearts™, to prevent the nation’s leading killers and empowering everyone to make heart-healthy choices.
What is Million Hearts™?
Launched in September 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Million Hearts™ is a national initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over the next five years. This public-private partnership, co-led by CDC and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is integrating and amplifying a range of existing heart disease and stroke prevention programs, policies, and activities.
Goals of Million Hearts™
The Million Hearts™ Initiative seeks to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by the end of 2016 by:
- Empowering Americans to make healthy choices such as avoiding tobacco use and reducing the amount of sodium and trans fat they eat. These changes will reduce the number of people who need medical treatment for high blood pressure or cholesterol—and ultimately prevent heart attacks and strokes.
- Improving care for people who do need treatment by encouraging a focus on the “ABCS”—Aspirin for people at risk, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation—four steps to address the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Million Hearts™ Support
Million Hearts™ has the support of multiple federal agencies and key private organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Pharmacists’ Association, the YMCA, Walgreens, and UnitedHealthCare. Over the next five years, Million Hearts™ is pursuing commitments and participation from many more partners in health care, public health, industry, and government. These partnerships will help Million Hearts™ leverage and advance existing investments in cardiovascular disease prevention.
What Million Hearts™ Means to You
Heart disease and stroke affects all of our lives, but we can all play a role in ending it. Prevention starts with everyone. Protect yourself and your loved ones from heart disease and stroke by understanding the risks and taking these steps.
- Drive the initiative by challenging your family and friends to take the Million Hearts™ pledge at www.millionhearts.hhs.gov.
- Get up and get active by being physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Know your ABCS:
- Ask your doctor if you should take an Aspirin every day.
- Find out if you have high Blood pressure or Cholesterol, and if you do, get effective treatment.
- If you Smoke, get help to quit.
- Make your calories count by eating a heart-healthy diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sodium and trans fat.
- Take control of your heart health by following your doctor’s prescription instructions.
Together, we can all be one in a million this Heart Month and every month. Learn more about Million Hearts
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Please take this message from the CDC to heart: we all must do more to keep our hearts and bodies healthy. As the article stated, we all have experienced loss of family or friends because of heart disease. Both my parents died from strokes; my husband had quadruple by-pass surgery five years ago, and is doing fine now. He has always exercised and taken care of himself, however, cholesterol and triglycerides were a large part in his heart problems. Have regular checkups , eat healthy, and exercise! Pat
I appreciate the article on your website:FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH. My fraternal grandmother and father died of heart disease. My mother has been diagnosed with a heart disease. Recently, my eight year old son’s football defensive end coach passed of a massive heart attack just a couple days from seeking medical attention in an emergency room. He had all of the classic signs but was sent home to see his regular physician. Oddly enough, Pat, he went to the ER alone after work from his job as a police officer in a neighboring county here in Georgia. So, this article truly hits home with me. Thank you for this article.