Heart disease awareness remains alarmingly low when we need it most
Key Takeaways
- Every year, American Heart Month puts heart disease front and center – but about 50% of Americans still don’t know it’s the #1 cause of death
- Even among healthcare leaders, only 57% know heart disease is the top killer, signaling more work ahead to raise awareness
- Whether at work or in our communities, we can all play a role in raising awareness and educating others about how to lower their risk
When was the last time you thought about your heart?
For many of us, it only crosses our mind when something goes wrong — when a parent is diagnosed with high blood pressure, or a colleague suffers a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, more than half of U.S. adults aren’t even aware heart disease is the leading cause of death. This awareness gap has serious implications for public health.
Recent research from Hello Heart's 2025 Heart Health Matters Report shows that it’s not just average Americans who lack awareness, but also health benefit leaders at large public and private sector employers and health plans.
Our survey of 375 healthcare decision-makers found only 57% recognize heart disease as the top cause of death — not much higher than the awareness among everyday Americans (49%). More alarmingly, only 44% of leaders know heart disease is also the leading killer of women.
How did we get here?
The gap in awareness isn't due to a decline in the condition’s prevalence or Americans’ heart attack risk. Nearly 50% of American adults have high blood pressure, and 40% of them don't even know they have it.
There are many contributing factors, including barriers to accessing preventive care and simple heart monitoring tools. Additionally, most people with hypertension have no symptoms, and heart disease risk slips under the radar.
Because of this, high blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer.” It can be a quiet condition until a heart attack or stroke strikes. Despite the efforts of advocates and researchers, it’s easy to see why there’s still more work to do to improve education, awareness, and investment in prevention programs.
And the stakes couldn’t be higher. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. These aren't just statistics — they're parents, siblings, friends, and colleagues whose lives are forever changed by a largely preventable disease.
The cost of silence
Our 2025 Heart Health Matters Report reveals some stark statistics:
- 94% of healthcare decision-makers believe heart conditions pose a significant threat to their organization's people and bottom line;
- Yet only 35% feel their organizations are prepared to address the heart health crisis.
Beyond this epidemic’s threat to our health, the financial costs are staggering.
For employers and health plans, heart disease is among the most expensive chronic conditions to treat. Each person with heart disease or risk factors is projected to incur more than $10,000 in annual costs for their sponsoring health plan. This figure multiplies exponentially when you consider the high prevalence of heart conditions in employee and member populations.
To learn just how urgent and costly this crisis has become, and what you can do to take action, download our 2025 report:
What you can do to help
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. Great things happen when people take care of their hearts. Researchers agree 80% of heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with the right tools, like medication and simple lifestyle changes.
Our mission at Hello Heart is to empower everyone to take charge of their heart health, so we’ll leave you with a few practical tips to share with the people you care about:
- Remember knowledge is power. Know and track your numbers – including blood pressure, cholesterol, and resting heart rate.
- Understand your risk. Talk with a clinician about your personal risk factors and family history.
- If you feel something, say something. Take symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat seriously. Women’s symptoms can be somewhat different, and are more likely to include nausea and jaw or neck pain.
- Move around a bit more. Find easy ways to move around more, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Make heart health monitoring a habit. Check your eligibility in our app and sign up for a free Hello Heart monitor and app-based coaching.
When heart health matters, we all thrive. But we have to make it a priority. If you’re ready to address the silent disease affecting your organization, get in touch with us at info@helloheart.com.
Hello Heart is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment. You should always consult with your doctor about your individual care.
Dr. Edo Paz
SVP, Medical Affairs at Hello Heart & Cardiologist at White Plains Hospital