Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

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.