Heart disease and stroke are ranked as the first and third leading causes of death for Americans of all ages in the United States. More than 1.4 million Americans die of heart disease annually, which means one American dies of heart disease every 36 seconds. Heart disease is also a leading cause of premature, permanent disability in the work force.

In 2007 alone, the cost of heart disease and stroke is projected to be $432 billion. That figure includes health care expenditures and lost productivity. Chronic illnesses—of which heart disease and disability are leading causes—account for nearly 80 percent of Medicaid expenditures.

Cardiovascular disease is preventable, and that's why many states are turning to prevention programs to help reduce costs and improve health. Partnering with employers and community leaders, states are implementing innovative heart disease and stroke prevention and awareness programs in workplaces, schools, clinics and other community settings.

The Legislator Policy Brief and Talking Points provide state policymakers with key background information about strokes and what they can do to help prevent them.  The policy brief also includes examples of what other states are doing to address this issue and advice from a state legislator and public health official.

Community Health Resources

Learn more about heart disease and stroke prevention initiatives in CDC's Community Health Resources, including fact sheets, state and local program contacts, communication materials and state data.

Report Finds Major Differences in Stroke Rates Among the States

Connecticut has the lowest stroke rate and Mississippi has the highest, according to a new report from the CDC that shows that some states have stroke prevalence rates more than double those of other states. The report, "Prevalence of Stroke - United States, 2005," is published in CDC´s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Legislator Policy Brief

Using Sound Science to Prevent Chronic Disease: State Policy Implications

This TrendsAlert describes 20 key proven strategies to prevent chronic diseases and promote good health. It also explores factors—such as insurance coverage and low health literacy—that affect the use of proven interventions.  It reveals how policymakers can prevent significant costs and illness by acting decisively to employ underutilized prevention strategies.

Prevention Works: Promising Strategies for Heart-Healthy and Stroke-Free States

This Web conference offered policymakers concrete advice from the field on the most promising strategies to get prevention efforts moving in their states. Read the issue brief to learn more about these strategies and how to make a difference in your state.

CSG Health Policy Forum: Cardiovascular Health and Wellness

This forum took place in September 2006 and offered state officials a look at innovative state programs and ways to develop a state action plan for cardiovascular wellness and prevention.

• Jill Birnbaum, state advocacy consultant, American Heart Association
• Dr. Ron Ozminkowski, director, Health & Productivity Research, Thomson Medstat
• Dr. Mark Alexander, research scientist, Kaiser Permanente
• Dr. Antronette Yancey, associate professor, UCLA School of Public Health
• Mary Paulsen, quality improvement director, American Heart Association
• Dr. Laura Hayman, professor, New York University
• Dory Masters, director, Division of Cardiovascular Health, South Carolina Department of Health
• Brian Boisseau, program manager, Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program
• Barbara A. Larsen, program manager, Utah Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program
• Marti Macchi, director of special studies, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Healthy States Summit for State Legislators

During the Healthy States Summit in San Francisco, July 17-19, 2006, legislators gathered helpful information about heart disease and stroke prevention.  Use the resources below to learn more:

• Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Lazette Lawton, MS, CHES, CDC, and Miriam Patanian, MPH, Washington State Department of Health
• Cardiovascular Disease: State and Local Public Policy Priorities, Dr. Mark Alexander, research scientist, division of research, Kaiser Permanente
• Legislators' Policy Brief: High Blood Pressure

Healthy States Quarterly

An article in the Healthy States Quarterly highlights Georgia's Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program (SHAPP). The state's program not only saves lives and money, but a new cost-effectiveness evaluation found that the program also resulted in better health outcomes when compared with two likely alternative scenarios - patients receiving no preventive care or patients receiving typical care.

CDC Publications on Heart Disease & Stroke

The CDC offers many publications on efforts to prevent heart disease and stroke.  A series of briefs called Moving Into Action suggests actions state legislators, governors, local officials, employers and health care leaders can take to promote heart-healthy and stroke-free communities. The publications include examples of state and community efforts to reduce heart disease and stroke and a summary of the science underlying prevention.

Another publication, Prevention Works: CDC Strategies for a Heart-Healthy and Stroke-Free America, describes strategies to control high blood pressure and cholesterol, recognize signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, improve emergency response, improve quality of care, and eliminate health disparities among population groups.