September 26, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched an ambitious plan to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years. More than 2 million Americans have a heart attack or stroke annually, and 800,000 of them die, according to the American Heart Association, one of the many organizations taking part in the initiative. If the plan succeeds, an additional 30 million Americans will have their high cholesterol or hypertension under control and 4 million will quit smoking by 2017. The wide-ranging, $200 million project, dubbed the “Million Hearts” initiative, focuses on four areas: aspirin for high-risk patients, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation. Starting in 2012, the Health Resources and Services Administration will require all community health centers to report on cardiovascular disease prevention measures, including blood pressure assessment, adult weight screening, tobacco use and cessation, and lower cholesterol with medication. Other parts of the initiative will directly target patient behavior, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirement that all cigarette packs display graphic health warnings to deter smoking.

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