Heart disease is the current leading cause of death in the United States. On top of this high rate of mortality, the burden of heart disease disproportionately impacts communities that historically receive fewer investments. Additionally, other factors such as mental illness, substance use, and smoking can increase the odds of developing heart disease.
State and territorial health agencies are key leaders in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Since 2013, ASTHO has partnered with CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention to support health agencies through a learning collaborative to address hypertension. The learning collaborative has engaged 32 states, territories, and freely associated states in implementing innovative models to prevent hypertension through system changes and quality improvement processes.
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Tools for Change
This resource library, housed on ASTHO's legacy site, provides tools from states, national organizations, and federal agencies to drive state and territorial work on hypertension identification and control.
Heart Month Q&A With Marcus Plescia, MD (YouTube)
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and in most cases, it is fully preventable. For American Heart Month, Marcus Plescia, ASTHO's former Chief Medical Officer, discusses what can be done to reduce disparities and the role that health inequities plays in cardiovascular disease.
Latest Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Resources
Addressing Hypertension During Pregnancy Improves Maternal and Infant Health
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Strategic State and Local Policies for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
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Addressing Hypertension in Pregnancy to Reduce Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
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