Million Hearts^®

Million Hearts® is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017 with the help of bringing together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are co-leaders of this initiative within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Heart disease and stoke are the second and fourth leading cause of death in Maine.  Heart disease is responsible for 1 of every 4 deaths in the United States and is the leading cause of morbidity, disability, and health care costs in Maine and the U.S.  Million Hearts^® aims to prevent heart disease and stroke by:

• Improving access to effective care
• Improving the quality of care for the ABCS (Aspirin therapy, Blood pressure, Cholesterol, Smoking)
• 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^® promotes:  

• Innovations to identify people now at cardiac risk
• Ensuring individuals at risk receive appropriate treatment      
• Healthy diet and physical activity
• Smoke-free environments to reduce current and future cardiac risk

To strengthen support for the initiative, Million Hearts^® is seeking commitments and participation from many organizations to target improvements in both clinical preventive practice and community prevention.  We all have a role to play in achieving the Million Hearts^® goal.  To learn more about making the commitment click here.

For more information contact Holly Richards at 207-287-4298 or holly.richards@maine.gov