The Heart Truth® celebrates a decade of progress

Office of the Director - October 2, 2012

The Red Dress with heart health statistics

Ten years ago, we launched The Heart Truth^® campaign to address a serious misconception among Americans that heart disease only affects men. Since then, with the help of many successful public-private partnerships, the campaign has not only raised awareness about women's risk of heart disease, but also motivated women and their loved ones to make and sustain heart-healthy behavior changes. On its tenth anniversary, we celebrate The Heart Truth's impact:

Awareness has increased. In 2009, 54 percent of American women reported that they know heart disease is their leading cause of death, up from 34 percent in 2000.
Awareness is helping women take action to reduce their heart disease risks. Women who know that heart disease is their leading cause of death are 35 percent more likely to be physically active and 47 percent more likely to report weight loss compared to those who are less aware.
Women are living longer, healthier lives. Age-adjusted heart disease deaths in women fell more than 30 percent from 1999 to 2009.

The campaign has also made strides in community outreach, spreading the message that women should know their personal risk factors for heart disease, the warning signs of a heart attack, and the need to take them seriously by calling 911.

Although we have made significant progress in the last 10 years, we still have much work to do. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death of American women. Together, we can continue our efforts to change that. Get started by telling your own heart health story or by sharing the above infographic to spread awareness and inspire others to protect their hearts. Explore the links below and connect with The Heart Truth via Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to even greater progress in the next decade and beyond.