Learn, Take Action, and Live

Abstract

Heart disease and stroke can often be prevented, but these diseases remain the number 1 and number 3 killers of Americans, and the demand for treatments continues to grow. From 1979 to 2002, the number of cardiovascular operations and procedures increased 470%.1 The failure of patients to follow medical advice unquestionably contributes to this problem. Statistics from the National Council of Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) show that more than half of all Americans with chronic diseases don’t follow their physician’s medication and lifestyle guidance.2 The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association recognize that patient education is an important way to help individuals “learn and live,” and our Web sites, www.americanheart.org and www.strokeassociation.org, provide easy access to the latest information on heart disease and stroke. But we also understand that information alone isn’t enough. Individuals need to take action, and lifestyle changes are the number 1 priority for reducing risks for heart disease and stroke. That’s why we provide an array of tools to help you take action to reduce your risks by making the necessary lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, compliance, and developing better relationships with your healthcare providers. All content on our site is science-reviewed and is updated when facts change. Medical illustration libraries are found in each content area, and links help show the connection between different aspects of cardiac health. New topics are continuously being developed. For a complete list of links to all topics discussed in this article, cut and paste the following URL into your Web browser: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/112/20/e318/DC1 ### Arrhythmia The Web site www.americanheart.org/arrhythmia has excellent information for patients recently diagnosed …