On September 13, 2011, a national initiative was announced by Million Hearts to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years. Since one in three deaths occur in the United States due to heart disease, it is vital that we educate ourselves on the terrible disease. Over the next few months we will feature articles that will help educate readers on what heart disease is, as well as what cardiovascular disease and strokes are. We hope our readers will be able to learn what causes these conditions and what they can do to help prevent them.

The following is taken from http://millionhearts.hhs.gov.

Million Hearts is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are the co-leaders of Million Hearts within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working alongside other federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Food and Drug Administration. Key private-sector partners include the American Heart Association, and YMCA, among others.

Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Million Hearts aims to improve heart disease and stroke prevention by:

  • Improving access to effective care.
  • Improving the quality of care.
  • Focusing more clinical attention on heart attack and stroke prevention.
  • Increasing public awareness of how to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle.
  • Increasing the consistent use of high blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

Million Hearts brings together existing efforts and new programs to improve health across communities and help Americans live longer, healthier, more productive lives.

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