Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single leading cause of death in Georgia, accounting for more than 20,000 deaths a year. This is about 1 in 3 deaths overall. Most of these deaths are premature and preventable. Each year, 136,000 years of potential life lost occur in Georgia due to CVD. In 2013 alone, the cost of CVD in Georgia was $6.1 billion.

CVD includes all diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, hypertension and atherosclerosis. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including diabetes, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use.

Combating Heart Disease in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health is joining the fight against heart disease as a proud participant in Million Hearts. Spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this national public health initiative aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.

Through statewide partnerships with local health departments, community organizations, hospitals and other public health entities, DPH is helping Georgians live a heart-healthy life by promoting evidence-based approaches to controlling CVD, commonly referred to as the ABCD’S of heart health: