A new coordinated initiative between the private and public sectors was announced in September 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services. Entitled the Million Hearts Initiative, the effort aims to achieve control of high blood pressure and cholesterol in an additional 10 and 20 million Americans, respectively, and to stop smoking in 4 million persons, according to CDC Director Thomas Frieden. Overall, the initiative seeks to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes.

Key strategies for the initiative involve greater reliance on Americans to make healthier choices and better implementation of the “ABCS” which target cardiovascular risk factors. These are Aspirin for people at risk, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation.

Support

Private sector groups such as the American Heart Association and Walgreens are undertaking a variety of activities in support of the Million Hearts Initiative, and this support is expected to grow in the coming months, according to a press release from HHS. On the government side, HHS is providing more than $200 million in grants that will support the objectives of the Million Hearts Initiative, including $40 million for chronic disease prevention programs in health departments.

 Tackling Salt

One part of the initiative will seek to reduce salt consumption and FDA issued a call for information in the Federal Register on September 15 about dietary intake of salt and approaches that will reduce sodium intake in the population. A public meeting is planned to discuss these topics among interested persons.

One estimate on the CDC website is that nearly 400,000 deaths each year are attributable to high blood pressure. The IOM in its recent report on “Strategies To Reduce Sodium Intake in the US” states that population wide reductions in sodium could prevent more than 100,000 deaths annually. The IOM stated that the current level of sodium in the food supply—added by food manufacturers, food service operators, and restaurants---is too high to be “safe”. It called for a major change through a new coordinated approach.