Million Hearts: Prevent 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes in 5 Years
On September 13, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services launched Million Hearts. Million Hearts is aimed to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.
Cardiovascular disease costs $444 billion annually in medical costs and lost productivity.
Million Hearts focuses on two goals:
1. Empower Americans to make health choices.
This includes preventing the use of tobacco, reducing sodium and trans fat intake. Taking this steps can mean decreased medical treatment (and costs) for blood pressure and cholesterol.
2. Improve care of those who need treatment.
The initiated is targeted to using Aspirin for people at risk, promotion of Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. This treatment focus is being referred to as the “ABCS” and is intended to cover the major risk factors for heart disease, which means prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
