Preventing 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes | VitalSigns | CDC

Preventing 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes | VitalSigns | CDC

Million Hearts®: Everyone Can Make Small Changes that Matter.

The solution to this crisis is already in front of us. Small changes sustained over time will result in big improvements to the heart health of our nation. Everyone can take action.

Million Hearts® is working with more than 120 partners, all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and 20 federal agencies to:

Keep people healthy by making changes to environments in which people live, learn, work, and play to make it easier to make healthy choices.

HOW: Achieve a 20% reduction in sodium intake, tobacco use, and physical inactivity.

Communities making physical activity easier by creating walking and biking trails.

People adding 10 minutes of physical activity a day—like walking or gardening.

Optimize care so that those at risk for cardiovascular disease get services and skills needed to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

• HOW: Achieve 80% performance in the ABCS, and 70% participation in cardiac rehabilitation.
• Insurers providing coverage for home blood pressure monitors.
• Clinicians using a standard treatment protocol for high blood pressure, cholesterol management, and tobacco cessation.

Improve outcomes for priority populations who suffer more from cardiovascular disease and where we know we can make an impact.

• HOW: Employers providing places and time for employees to walk during the workday.
• Behavioral health providers receiving training in smoking cessation and using it in their practice.

 Top of Page

We’ve already begun.

Keeping People Healthy.

• Eskenazi Health in Indiana lowered sodium content of foods in all vending machines and cafeterias by 37% with their Choose Health Initiative.

Optimizing Care.

• Over 200 Federally Qualified Health Centers achieved more than 70% performance of the ABCS in 2016 earning a Million Hearts® badge.

Improving Outcomes for Priority Populations—People who have had a heart attack or stroke.

• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire achieved 80% cardiac rehab enrollment through liaisons who identified eligible patients and connected them to programs.

What Can Be Done

The Federal Government is:

• Co-leading the Million Hearts® initiative (CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2022. millionhearts.hhs.gov
• Helping improve the heart health of millions of Americans by investing in improving delivery of care, including rewarding clinicians for providing care we know works.
• Providing funding and support to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, municipalities, and tribal communities to ensure clinical and public health agencies are working together to prevent heart disease and stroke.

Healthcare Professionals & Systems Can:

• Focus on the ABCS of heart health: Aspirin use when appropriate, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation.
• Take a team approach—use technology, standard processes, and the skills of everyone in the healthcare system to find and treat those at risk for heart disease and stroke.
• Make sure people who have had a heart attack or stroke get the care they need to recover well and reduce their risk of another event.
• Promote physical activity and healthy eating among their patients and employees.

State And Local Health Departments Can:

• Use their state’s heart disease and stroke events data to drive Million Hearts® actions locally.
• Promote tobacco control interventions, smoke-free environments, and programs to help tobacco users quit.
• Work to improve heart-healthy nutrition and physical activity by promoting the use of healthy food service guidelines and making communities more walkable.

Employers Can:

• Make it easier for employees to get needed medicines, blood pressure monitors, and services by providing insurance coverage with no or low out-of-pocket costs.
• Provide on-site blood pressure monitoring and physical activity programs.
• Ensure smoke-free spaces and access to healthy food and beverages in vending machines and facilities.

Everyone Can:

• Start one heart healthy behavior today – eat a heart-healthy diet, get physically active, or quit smoking! Keep it going to keep your heart healthy now and later in life!
• Learn your heart age and take action to improve it. cdc.gov/heartdisease/heartage.htm
• If you don’t use tobacco, don’t start. If you do, seek help at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or www.smokefree.gov.

More information about Million Hearts® and tools you can use are available at millionhearts.hhs.gov.

Stories from people who have taken control of their blood pressure are available at https://bit.ly/2N9ahqX.