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A
Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke
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A
Comprehensive Public Health Strategy
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Every 29 seconds, someone will suffer a coronary event in the United
States. Every 60 seconds, someone will die from such an event.
Every 45 seconds, someone will suffer a new or recurrent stroke.
Every 3.1 minutes, someone will die from a stroke.
Many people believe that cardiovascular disease only affects men and
older people. But heart disease and stroke are among the leading
causes of death for U.S. women and men in all racial and ethnic
groups, and sudden cardiac deaths have increased dramatically among
people younger than age 35.
Causes of Death for all Americans in the
United States, 2000
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Effective action will require a
comprehensive public health strategy and a sustained commitment to its
implementation. A Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and
Stroke addresses these requirements. CDC invited participants to develop
the plan, in keeping with its responsibility for undertaking activities to
help move the nation toward achievement of the goal for heart disease and
stroke prevention under Healthy People 2010.5
This followed designation of CDC as co–lead
agency for this focus area, joining the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
which had sole responsibility for this area previously. NIH, with CDC and
other partners, participated in the Working Group that guided the planning
process. In addition, public health experts and heart disease and stroke
prevention specialists in the United States and abroad were asked to
participate in the Working Group, one of five Expert Panels, or a National
Forum.
For the Expert Panels, each of which was
chaired by an extramural public health expert, 45 national and international
experts contributed to formulation of the recommendations and proposed
action steps. For the Working Group, which also was chaired by an extramural
public health expert, 20 national and international experts served. For the
National Forum, which was presided over by the chair of the Working Group,
81 individuals representing 66 national and international organizations and
agencies other than CDC participated. With technical support from CDC, these
groups developed the substance of the plan. These activities occurred from
December 2001 through September 2002.
The resulting plan belongs to all who wish
to use it. For successful implementation, public health agencies and the
overall public health community must join with new and existing partners
representing every interested segment of society. CDC and other public
health agencies will provide leadership for working with partners to assure
that meaningful progress is made. Participation is welcomed from all who
wish to contribute. Continuing collaboration with NIH as co–lead agency will
be important.
Next
Section: The Challenge
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Date last reviewed:
05/12/2006
Content source: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke
Prevention,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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