Over the past 64 years, there has been a decline in cardiovascular disease-related deaths in relation to scientific advances. However, cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one killer in the U.S. and worldwide, and according to the World Health Organization, the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases, mainly from heart disease and stroke, is expected to reach 23.3 million by 2030, emphasizing that we still have a long way to go.

As part of the ACC’s new strategic plan, the College is placing an emphasis on continuing to work with other societies, federal agencies, international health groups, and patient organizations at a number of different levels to highlight the importance of prevention and the need for policies and programs at the state, national, and global levels that focus on population health.

The reality is, it will only get worse unless we work together to reverse these sobering trends. Heart Month provides us with the opportunity to reach the broader public with the importance of making lifestyle choices that affect major cardiovascular risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

With a month-long spotlight on cardiovascular disease, I hope you will take this opportunity to continue to be stewards of prevention efforts, and carry these efforts throughout the year and beyond.

How are you supporting Heart Month? Leave your comments below.

Read more about Heart Month and a lesson in partnerships, member values and patient education in this month’s President’s Page in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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