Overview

Overview

Disease Impact
Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States. Americans suffer more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes each year, and every day, 2,200 people die from cardiovascular disease.

Million Hearts^™ National Initiative
Million Hearts^™ is a national initiative launched in September 2011 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The goal of the initiative is to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years. Million Hearts^™ aims to prevent heart disease and stroke by:

Million Hearts™ aims to prevent heart disease and stroke by:

• Improving access to effective care.
• Improving the quality of care for the ABCS.
• Focusing clinical attention on the prevention of heart attack and stroke.
• Activating the public to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle.
• Improving the prescription and adherence to appropriate medications for the ABCS.

Million Hearts^™ VA
To contribute to the Million Hearts^™ goal to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017 the state is committed to:

• Challenging Virginia residents to test 1,000,000 blood pressures by May 2013.
• Hosting a Million Hearts^™ Virginia website (www.MillionHeartsVA.org).
• Focusing its efforts on helping partners coordinate current and planned activities targeting the ABCS through Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program activities and community forums.

To pledge your individual commitment to the national Million Hearts™ initiative, click on the “Take the pledge.”

For more information on the Million Hearts™ initiative, please visit: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov