American Heart Association facts for kids
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| Formation |
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| Founder | Paul Dudley White (Co-Founder) |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Purpose | "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke" |
| Headquarters | 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, Texas 75231-4596 United States |
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Key people
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Joseph Ching-Ming Wu (President) |
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a group in the United States that doesn't make a profit. It helps people have healthier lives, free from heart disease and stroke. The AHA does this by funding medical research, teaching people about healthy living, and making sure hospitals give good heart care.
They are famous for creating guidelines on how to prevent heart disease and how to give basic life support (like CPR). In 2014, they even made the first guidelines for preventing strokes in women. The American Heart Association also runs many public campaigns and fundraising events.
The organization started in New York City in 1924. Today, its main office is in Dallas, Texas. The AHA's goal, updated in 2018, is "To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives." Their work focuses on five main areas: research, heart and brain health, health fairness, speaking up for health, and teaching health professionals.
Contents
History of the AHA
Early Years (1924–1980s)
In 1924, six heart doctors, including Paul Dudley White, started the Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease. It was a group for doctors. In 1948, it became a nationwide health organization for everyone. Since 1949, the AHA has given over $5 billion to research heart, brain, and blood vessel health. Today, the American Heart Association has more than 33 million volunteers. They all work to improve heart health and lower deaths from heart diseases.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the AHA shared important advice on how to live a heart-healthy life. For example, in 1961, they suggested:
- Keep a healthy body weight.
- Get moderate exercise, like walking.
- Eat less total fat, especially saturated fat, and cholesterol.
- Men with a family history of heart problems should be extra careful about their diet.
- Make diet changes with a doctor's help.
These suggestions became more detailed over time but always focused on similar healthy habits.
Later Years (1990s–2000s)
In 1994, a study found that the American Heart Association was the fifth "most popular charity" in America. About 95% of Americans over 12 years old liked or loved the organization.
In 1998, the AHA created the American Stroke Association. This group helps prevent strokes, improve treatments, and help people recover. In 2003, both groups started the "Get With the Guidelines (GWTG)-Stroke" program. Hospitals can use this program to get the newest science-based treatment advice.
In 2004, the American Heart Association launched the "Go Red for Women" campaign. This campaign specifically helps women learn about heart disease risks and how to protect their health. Money raised from this campaign supports awareness, research, and education for women's heart health.
In 2008, the AHA suggested "hands-only" CPR as an option for people who see someone collapse. This method focuses only on chest pushes, without rescue breaths. It helps keep a person alive until medical help arrives.
On November 30, 2009, the AHA started a new campaign called "Be the Beat." This campaign teaches 12- to 15-year-olds fun ways to learn basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Recent Activities (2012–Present)
In 2012, the AHA focused again on hands-only CPR. They started a national campaign to teach more people this life-saving method. Actress Jennifer Coolidge helped spread the word for this campaign.
In 2013, the American Heart Association and another group agreed that obesity is a disease. They suggested that losing weight should be part of its treatment.
In 2014, the AHA released its first guidelines for preventing strokes in women. Stroke signs and risks can be different for men and women. For women, the guidelines look at factors like pregnancy and depression.
In 2015, the American Heart Association supported the "Tobacco 21" campaign. This campaign asks local, state, and national governments to raise the age for buying tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21.
In 2016, the AHA, Verily Life Sciences, and AstraZeneca invested $75 million in the "One Brave Idea" program. This money went to research new signs in the body, like genes, that show if someone is at risk for heart problems. They hoped this research would help the AHA reach its goals of improving heart health and reducing heart-related deaths by 20% by 2020.
In 2017, the American Heart Association and other groups changed the definition of high blood pressure for the first time in 14 years. Under the new rules, high blood pressure is now 130 over 80, instead of 140 over 80. This change was made because even blood pressure at 130 over 80 can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The AHA hoped that finding risks earlier would help more people make healthy lifestyle changes instead of needing medicine.
In 2018, the AHA and another group gave new advice to doctors on managing cholesterol. This helps lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. The new advice suggests using a coronary artery calcium score if doctors are unsure if a patient needs statin medicine or just lifestyle changes.
In 2020 and 2021, the AHA's big yearly meeting was held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It went back to being an in-person meeting in 2022.
What the AHA Focuses On
The American Heart Association works on many things, including research and campaigns. Here are some of their main focus areas.
Research
Since 1949, the AHA has given over $5 billion to research heart, brain, and blood vessel health.
Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN)
In 2014, the AHA started the Strategically Focused Research Network. This program focuses on important health issues chosen by the AHA's leaders. Some topics include high blood pressure, heart failure, and new health technologies.
Heart and Brain Health
Go Red for Women
The "Go Red for Women" campaign began in 2004. It helps women understand that they can also get heart disease, not just men. Between 2016 and 2021, the AHA invested $20 million in research for this campaign.
As of 2023, over 900,000 women have joined the campaign. They receive updates on how to improve their heart health. The campaign also has popular social media pages.
Be the Beat
The "Be the Beat" challenge encourages people, especially young people, to learn CPR.
American Heart Association CEO Roundtable
The CEO Roundtable started in 2013. It helps companies use proven ways to improve health in the workplace. In 2023, nearly 50 CEOs from top companies were part of this group.
American Stroke Association
In 1998, the AHA created the American Stroke Association. This group works to prevent strokes, improve treatments, and help people recover. In 2003, they started the "Get With the Guidelines (GWTG)-Stroke" program. Hospitals use this program to get the latest scientific advice for treating strokes.
R.A.P.I.D.O. Campaign
This 2023 campaign is in Spanish. It helps Hispanic Americans learn about stroke symptoms. The letters in R.A.P.I.D.O. stand for:
- Rostro caído (face drooping)
- Alteración del equilibrio (loss of balance or lack of coordination)
- Pérdida de fuerza en el brazo (arm weakness)
- Impedimento visual repentino (sudden vision difficulty)
- Dificultad para hablar (slurred or strange speech)
- Obtén ayuda, llama al 911 (get help, call 911)
Know Diabetes By Heart
This campaign is a joint effort by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. It teaches people about the strong link between diabetes and heart disease. The AHA says that adults with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
Check. Change. Control.
The "Check. Change. Control." program helps people manage high blood pressure. It encourages them to check their blood pressure at home. In 2019, over 315,000 people used this program.
Nation of Lifesavers
This program started in 2023. Its goal is to teach teens and adults how to confidently save a life during a heart emergency. More than 350,000 people have heart attacks outside of a hospital each year. This program wants to help more of them survive.
Life’s Essential 8
"Life’s Essential 8" (LE8) are eight important things the AHA says are key for heart health. They used to be called LE7, but in 2022, the AHA added sleep health. The other seven factors are: body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, smoking, physical activity, and diet.
Health Equity
The American Heart Association's goal for 2024 is that "Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life." They want to improve heart health for everyone. This includes finding and removing things that make it hard for people to get good health care.
The AHA works with other groups to help employers improve health fairness in the workplace.
Social Impact Fund
The AHA's Social Impact Fund gives money to groups that help communities. These groups work to remove barriers to health, like lack of healthy food, affordable housing, or good transportation. They also help with education and jobs.
Some groups that have received money include:
- Sakan Community Resource
- Hmong American Farmers Association
- Better Futures Minnesota
Hispanic Serving Institution Scholars Program
This scholarship program is for Hispanic/Latino students. They must be studying public health or healthcare at certain colleges. The program aims to have more Hispanic/Latino people working in healthcare. Students get mentors, do research projects, and attend workshops.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholars Program
The HBCU Scholars program connects students with AHA researchers. It helps develop minority scientists and healthcare professionals. It also aims to increase the number of minority students who go into health science programs. Students study how heart disease affects their community and learn about factors that impact vulnerable groups.
HeartCorps
HeartCorps is an AHA program that helps improve health fairness in rural areas of America. As of November 2022, 26 states were part of this program.
Advocacy
No Surprise Medical Billing
The American Heart Association supports the "No Surprises Act." They say it helps keep medical costs down and encourages more people to see doctors when they need to.
Food is Medicine Research Initiative
In 2022, the AHA and other partners announced a plan to create a national "Food is Medicine Research Initiative." This plan aims to show that programs providing healthy food can truly improve health.
In September 2023, the AHA joined with other health groups to launch "Nourish My Health." This campaign teaches people about the health benefits of eating nutritious food.
You're the Cure
"You're the Cure" is the American Heart Association's national network of supporters. These are people who help the AHA's mission.
Professional Education and Development
The American Heart Association publishes guidelines and advice for healthcare professionals. Some examples of their resources include:
- Information to prevent strokes and improve treatments.
- Advice on healthy lifestyles for heart health.
- Guidelines for preventing strokes in women.
- Definitions for high blood pressure.
- Advice for managing heart disease risks in adults with Type 2 diabetes.
- Scientific statements on specific diseases.
- Guidelines for treating heart attacks.
The AHA also holds a big yearly meeting called "Scientific Sessions." It covers many medical topics. They also host an "International Stroke Conference."
Second Century of Science Initiative
The "Second Century of Science Initiative" was announced in 2023. It's part of the AHA's plans to celebrate its first 100 years. Through this initiative, the AHA gave $20 million in grants to over 100 scientists in the U.S. These grants help scientists do important research.
Get With the Guidelines
In 2003, the AHA and the American Stroke Association created the "Get With the Guidelines (GWTG)-Stroke" program. Hospitals can use this program to get the latest scientific treatment guidelines. The program also collects information about patients and how well hospitals follow the guidelines.
Fellowship
Doctors and scientists who are very interested in heart diseases and stroke can become "Fellows" of the American Heart Association. The AHA has 16 different groups called councils. Members of these councils can apply to become Fellows. Fellows can use the letters "FAmerican Heart Association" after their name. This shows their professional standing and their service to the association. Fellows also get benefits like lower prices for AHA journals and meetings.
Key People
Nancy Brown is the CEO of the American Heart Association. Joseph Wu is the volunteer president, and Marsha Jones is the volunteer chairperson. Nancy Brown has been the chief executive officer since 2009.
See Also
In Spanish: Asociación Estadounidense del Corazón para niños
- American College of Cardiology
- American Heart Association Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards
- American Heart Month
- Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- American Stroke Association
