American Heart Association Fact Sheets

The 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Statement, Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease, summarizes the current research on the association of alcohol use and cardiovascular disease. Fact Sheet 

"Maintain Blood Sugar" is one of the health factors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™.  Healthy blood glucose is one sign that your brain, kidneys, and heart are healthy. If blood glucose is too low, you may feel tired or dizzy but feel better after you eat. High blood glucose may be related to things like dehydration or infection. But if blood glucose is too high over time, it may mean you have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Fact Sheet - View this fact sheet in other languages.

"Manage Blood Pressure" is one of the health factors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure (≥130/80 mm Hg), which is the #1 preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A joint guideline from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology advises earlier treatment that includes lifestyle modification and medications as appropriate, recommends close blood pressure management before, during and after pregnancy, and highlights using the American Heart Association PREVENT™ equations to estimate a person’s cardiovascular disease risk to tailor treatment. Fact Sheet  and Spanish News Release

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., despite major advances in treatment and prevention. While deaths from heart attacks have declined, other heart-related conditions like heart failure and arrhythmia are on the rise. Lifestyle factors and chronic conditions such as physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension continue to drive risk. Early screening, education, and adopting heart-healthy habits are key to reducing the burden of CVD. Fact Sheet

"Control Cholesterol" is one of the health factors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™. High levels of non-HDL, or “bad,” cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Your health care professional can consider non-HDL cholesterol as the preferred number to monitor, rather than total cholesterol, because it can be measured without fasting beforehand and is reliably calculated among all people. Fact Sheet - View this fact sheet in other languages.

Each year, approximately 350,000 people in the U.S. experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – when the heart suddenly stops beating – which results in death 90% of the time, according to the Association’s statistics. By giving someone CPR you can double or even triple their chances of survival. Learn CPR and become part of the Nation of Lifesavers™. Fact Sheet | Updated CPR guidelines tackle choking response, opioid-related emergencies and a revised Chain of Survival - American Heart Association Guidelines - Spanish news release

Life’s Essential 8™ are the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association. Better cardiovascular health helps lower the risk for heart disease, stroke and other major health problems. Life's Essential 8™ comprises two major areas: 4 Health Behaviors and 4 Health Factors. Fact Sheet

"Be More Active" is one of the health behaviors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™. Adults should get 2 ½ hours of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Kids should have 60 minutes every day, including play and structured activities. Fact Sheet - View this fact sheet in other languages.

Preeclampsia is new-onset high blood pressure that happens during pregnancy. It usually starts after the 20th week of pregnancy. You may have preeclampsia if you have a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher on two recordings at least four hours apart. Other signs of preeclampsia include high levels of protein in the urine or other signs of organ damage. Fact Sheet

"Healthy Sleep" is one of the health behaviors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™. ,Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Children require more: 10-16 hours for ages 5 and younger, including naps; 9-12 hours for ages 6-12; and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18. Adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function and reduces the risk for chronic diseases. Fact Sheet - View this fact sheet in other languages.

A stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When this happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, causing brain cells to die. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, 80% of strokes are considered preventable. Fact Sheet  | ataque o derrame cerebral

"Quit Tobacco" is one of the health behaviors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™. Use of inhaled nicotine delivery products, which includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping, is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., including about a third of all deaths from heart disease. Roughly 40% of U.S. children ages 3-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke. Fact Sheet - View this fact sheet in other languages.

"Maintaining a Healthy Weight" is one of the health factors outlined in Life’s Essential 8™.  Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits. Body mass index, a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height, is a useful gauge. Optimal BMI is less than 25, but less than 18.5 is considered underweight. You can calculate it online or consult a health care professional. Fact Sheet - View this fact sheet in other languages.