World Heart Day is a worldwide observation to promote awareness and intervention in cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. This year, World Heart Day occurs on Sept. 29. NACCHO calls on local health departments to commemorate World Heart Day by raising awareness about cardiovascular health in their communities.

The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention is partnering with NACCHO, the American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Amgen to help organizations promote cardiovascular health. Using partner resources, the National Forum created a social media toolkit that encourages Americans to take one step toward healthier hearts: getting their cholesterol checked.

Having high levels of “bad” cholesterol, also known as LDL-C, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, there are no symptoms for high cholesterol. Therefore, adults must get their cholesterol checked to find out if their LDL-C puts them at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Unfortunately, many Americans do not know their LDL-C levels; among those that do, less than half (48%) get treatment to control it. Local health departments can help people recommit to their heart health on World Heart Day.

Visit the National Forum’s World Heart Day Member Resource page to access a cholesterol management social media toolkit and a list of cholesterol-specific resources. NACCHO offers the Million Hearts Local Engagement Guide to help local health departments engage partners to advance heart health, and a webpage featuring other webinars, stories from the field, and resources. Local health department leaders interested in implementing heart health initiatives in their jurisdictions can learn about how Indianapolis, Green Bay, and New Orleans are celebrating World Heart Day this year. Together, local health departments can help their communities take a step toward a healthier future this World Heart Day.