Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, is the nation’s number one cause of death and affects both men and women of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Every year, more than two million Americans suffer a heart attack or stroke. Eight hundred thousand die, and millions more are disabled.

To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, along with state and local agencies, has launched a “Million Hearts” initiative, a national effort emphasizing effective and inexpensive health practices that reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke. The aim is to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is leading the effort in the Commonwealth.

This edition of Physician Focus, produced in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, describes the various risk factors for cardiovascular disease, offers suggestions for patients to reduce the risks and prevent the disease, and outlines the state public health department’s public education efforts as part of the Million Hearts initiative.

Watch Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke on Comcast 8 / Verizon 39, April 9th & 10th at 6:30pm

Guest:  Lauren Smith, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Host:  Mavis Jaworski, M.D., Primary Care Physician, Beverly, Massachusetts