February is American Heart Month, a time when all people—especially women—are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. This toolkit contains facts and resources that anyone can use to raise awareness about the risks of heart disease and the importance of identifying and managing heart-related health conditions.
Heart disease quick facts
- Heart disease is very common. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups.1 In 2022, 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States was caused by heart disease.12
- High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease. Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for heart disease and stroke. And just 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure has it under control.3
- Heart disease is costly. The cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity from heart disease amounted to $252.2 billion between 2019 and 2020.2
Shareable and printable tools in English and Spanish
Caring about your heart health
- Preventing High Blood Pressure: Having a healthy plan with a variety of foods, keeping a healthy weight, and not smoking can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range, which lowers your risk for heart disease and stroke.
- ABCS of Heart Health: Brought to you by Million Hearts®, this easy-to-remember mnemonic is a tried-and-true method for you take care of your heart health.
- Live to the Beat: This campaign aims to help adults take steps to prevent heart disease and stroke.
Resources for cardiovascular health care teams
Spreading the word on social media
Follow CDC and Million Hearts® on social media and use the hashtag #HeartMonth when you share these resources for controlling high blood pressure, talking to patients about lifestyle changes, and more.
Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; About the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
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