ACC staff and leaders tuned in last week for Million Hearts' Public Health Grand Rounds. The presentation focused on effective strategies for improving heart health currently underway in New York City and San Diego.  We discussed sodium intake, trans fat consumption, and smoking. When it comes to the leading preventable cause of death—smoking—only 23 percent of people attempting smoking cessation reach out for help. Million Hearts Executive Director Janet Wright, MD, FACC (and former Senior Vice President of Science and Quality for the ACC) discussed the imperative to promote more ‘smoke free’ laws, cigarette tax increases, access to treatments and mass media campaigns to change untoward behaviors and reduce the incidence of CV disease.

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health, Tom Farley, MD, MPH, described the drastic and effective steps his city has taken over the last decade to reduce heart disease mortality. New York City began its prevention oriented approach in 2002 by enacting smoke-free air policies that have since been extended to all outdoor beaches and parks and will include 23 university campuses this year. Cigarette taxes have been hiked up to $6.86 per pack (!), bringing the total cost of a pack of cigarettes to nearly $11, the highest in the nation. Additionally, a powerful mass media campaign continues to build awareness of the effects of smoking and encourages behavior change. Over 10 years, Big Apple ischemic heart disease mortality dropped 33 percent, cerebrovascular disease dropped 16 percent, and New York City greatly outpaces the nation in life-expectancy-at-age-40.

On the left coast, San Diego is a perfect example of a city that has successfully translated federal initiatives into local action. JACC Editor-in-Chief Tony DeMaria, MD, FACC, discussed the “University of Best Practices,” a unique opportunity for competing medical groups to come together to share strategies and data, ultimately improving the health of San Diego residents.

DeMaria also showcased San Diego’s successful “Be There” campaign that has set the audacious goal of establishing a “Heart Attack and Stroke-Free Zone” and has caught the public’s attention. The campaign employs an emotional tug, versus straight facts, and communicates the gravity of heart disease and the importance of controlling risk factors. The hope is that this successful program can be adapted for other communities across the country and around the world.

The initiatives taking place in NYC and San Diego are just two examples of what is happening around the country to save one million hearts. I’ve previously blogged about how smoke free laws improve heart health and the efforts underway in many states. My home state of Mississippi and the State Board of Health are working together to participate in the Million Hearts Campaign, as are several other chapters at the state level. Keep up the good work y’all!

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