Heart Disease and Stroke

Nothing kills more Americans than heart disease and stroke. More than 877,500 Americans die of heart disease or stroke every year—that’s one-third of all deaths. These diseases take an economic toll, as well, costing our health care system $216 billion per year and causing $147 billion in lost productivity on the job.

American Heart Association / American Stroke Association

The American Heart Association (AHA) is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, our organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters. We fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives. The American Stroke Association was created as a division in 1997 to bring together the organisation’s stroke-related activities.

AHA’s work on noncommunicable diseases

The AHA played an instrumental role in the lead up to this high level summit and has since advocated to support and contribute to the World Health Organization’s goal of reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. As one of the oldest organizations committed to cardiovascular disease and stroke, the Association is vested in helping reduce the global burden of CVD and stroke through collaboration with global partners and knowledge transfer of proven programs and strategies.

AHA shares lifesaving information with – and learn from – other organizations, passionate supporters and governments to save more lives, from all walks of life.

AHA work in coalition with key global partners like the World Heart Federation, the NCD Roundtable, the NCD Alliance, and over 150 sister cardiology and resuscitation societies and foundations, to speak with one voice and advocate for sound health and public policies.

AHA provides, in support of a country’s health priorities, our technical expertise and experience in developing both patient and public programs and campaigns to improve the quality of life and promote a culture of health.

The AHA is recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development and works closely with the World Health Organization’s regional office, the Pan American Health Organization to support technical cooperation to improve the health and quality of life in the Americas.

The AHA is also actively involved in advocating for NCDs and CVD as a global health priority within the United States government agencies through its active engagement in the NCD Roundtable and the Taskforce on Women and NCDs.