About Million Hearts®

Heart disease and stroke are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States. Every 43 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, many of them fatal. On average, one American dies from stroke every 4 minutes.

Million Hearts® is a national initiative with an ambitious goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services co-lead the initiative on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Download the Million Hearts® fact sheet [PDF-178K]

Million Hearts® aims to prevent heart attacks and strokes by:

  • Improving access to effective care.
  • Improving quality of care for the ABCS of heart health:
    • Aspirin when appropriate.
    • Blood pressure control.
    • Cholesterol management.
    • Smoking cessation.
  • 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.

Download the Million Hearts® logic model [PDF-171K]

Infographics

Million Hearts® Begins With You

Working together to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes. 1 of every 3 deaths is caused by heart disease and stroke. Health care costs for heart attack and stroke: $312.6 billion. Leading cause of preventable death in people 40–65 years of age. 2 million plus heart attacks and strokes each year. To prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes, health care professionals and public health workers should do what we know works: Focus on the ABCS: Aspirin when appropriate; Blood pressure control; Cholesterol management; Smoking cessation. Use health IT: Use electronic health records and other health IT to identify patients who need support to improve their ABCS and then track their progress over time. Use team-based care: Use clinical innovations, including: Use everyone who interacts with patients to the top of their skills and license; Self-measured blood pressure monitoring with clinical support; Reward and recognize excellence in the ABCS. By doing what we know works, health care professionals, health care systems, and public health organizations can help prevent 1,000,000 heart attacks and strokes and meet these goals by 2017: 47 percent to 70 percent increase in aspirin use for secondary prevention; 46 percent to 70 percent increase in blood pressure control; 33 percent to 70 percent increase in cholesterol management; 23 percent to 70 percent increase in help for those who want to quit smoking; 20 percent reduction in sodium consumption; 50 percent reduction in trans-fat consumption. For more information on effectiveness of team-based care, visit: www.thecommunityguide.org/cvd/teambasedcare.html, www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/2013/dpk_13_in_2013.html, www.millionhearts.hhs.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Million Hearts® Targets

Working together to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes. Million Hearts targets to reach this goal include: Changing the Environment, by 2017 - Reduce Smoking: the number of American smokers has declined from 26% to 24%. Reduce Sodium Intake: Americans consume less than 2,900 milligrams of sodium each day. Eliminate Trans Fat Intake: Americans do not consume any artificial trans fat. We also hope to Optimize Care in the Clinical Setting by: Focus on the ABCS: Aspirin use when appropriate. Of the people who have had a heart attack or stroke, 70% are taking aspirin. Blood Pressure Control: Of the people who have hypertension, 70% have adequately controlled blood pressure. Use Health Tools and Technology - Cholesterol Management: Of the people who have high levels of bad cholesterol, 70% are managing it effectively. Innovate in Care Delivery - Smoking Cessation Treatment: Of current smokers, 70% get counseling and/or medications to help them quit. Million Hearts promotes clinical and population-wide targets for the ABCS. The 70% values shown here are clinical targets for people engaged in the health care system. For the U.S. population as a whole, the target is 65% for the ABCS. Stay Connected to Million Hearts via http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/be_one_mh.html; facebook.com/MillionHearts; twitter.com/@MillionHeartsUS; and email us at millionhearts@cdc.gov.

Reports

Cover of Preventing 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes: A Turning Point for Impact

Preventing 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes: A Turning Point for Impact

Since launching in 2012, Million Hearts® has made progress toward reducing illness and death from heart attack and stroke. We’ve learned a lot from leaders and partners in health care and communities about how to effect change. At the halfway mark, we’re accelerating our efforts—join us and take action.

View the report [PDF-178K]
Cover of Million Hearts® 2012: Building Strong Partnerships for Progress

Million Hearts® 2012: Building Strong Partnerships for Progress

In 2012, the initiative’s first year, Million Hearts® built strong partnerships to ensure steady progress toward preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Check out a few examples of how partners worked to improve heart health—a focus on the ABCS, using health information technology, and working in teams.

View the report[PDF-7M]

Publications

The Million Hearts Initiative: Guidelines and Best Practices

Nurse Practitioner, February 2016

Million Hearts®: Preventing a Million Heart Attacks and Strokes Through Public-Private Collaboration

(Interview with Janet Wright, Executive Director of Million Hearts®)
Future Cardiology, May 2013

The Million Hearts® Initiative: How Nurse Practitioners Can Help Lead

Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, October 2012

Million Hearts®—Where Population Health and Clinical Practice Intersect

Circulation, July 2012

The Million Hearts® Initiative—Targeting Key Drivers of Cardiovascular Mortality From a Medical Specialty Society Perspective

US Cardiology, February 2012

What the Million Hearts® Initiative Means for Stroke: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Stroke, February 2012

Zeroes, San Jose, Phoenix, Dallas, San Diego

Journal of the American College of Cardiology, December 2011

Million Hearts®: Strategies to Reduce the Prevalence of Leading Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 2011

The "Million Hearts®" Initiative—Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes

New England Journal of Medicine, September 2011

The American Heart Association and the Million Hearts® Initiative: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association [PDF-402K]

Circulation, September 2011

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