The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. They are known for publishing guidelines on cardiovascular disease and prevention, standards on basic life support, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), and in 2014 issued the first guidelines for preventing strokes in women.^[1] The American Heart Association is also known for operating a number of highly visible public service campaigns starting in the 1970s, and also operates several fundraising events.

Originally formed in Chicago in 1924,^[2][3] the American Heart Association is currently headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It was originally headquartered in New York City.^[2][3] The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency.^[4] The mission of the organization, updated in 2018, is “To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”^[5] The organization’s work can be divided into five key areas: research; heart and brain health; equitable health; advocacy; and professional education and development.

In 1924, cardiologists Paul Dudley White, Hugh D. McCulloch, Joseph Sailer, Robert H. Halsey, James B. Herrick, and Lewis A. Conner,^[6] formed the Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease as a professional society for doctors. In 1949, the American Heart Association received $1.5 million (equivalent to $17–20 million today) from individual listeners of a nationwide radio contest. The fundraiser, called The Walking Man, aired on the popular program Truth or Consequences, which was sponsored by Duz dishwashing liquid (a product of Procter & Gamble). More than two million letters were submitted by listeners, each averaging a donation of 70 cents. The outpouring of support marked a major turning point for the Association, enabling it to fund scientific research and launch national public health initiatives.^[7][8] Since 1949, it has funded over $5 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health research.^[9] The organization, now known as the American Heart Association, consists of over 33 million volunteers who are dedicated to improving heart health and reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases.^[10]

In the 1950s and 1960s, the American Heart Association published several reports and guidelines focused on recommended lifestyles to improve cardiovascular health. This included a 1957 report that said: (1) Diet may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, (2) The fat content and total calories in the diet are probably important factors, (3) The ratio between saturated and unsaturated fat may be the basic determinant, and (4) A wide variety of other factors besides fat, both dietary and non-dietary, may be important.^[11]

By 1961, these findings had been strengthened, leading to the new 1961 American Heart Association recommendations: (1) Maintain a correct body weight, (2) Engage in moderate exercise, e.g., walking to aid in weight reduction, (3) Reduce intake of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Increase intake of polyunsaturated fat, (4) Men with a strong family history of atherosclerosis should pay particular attention to diet modification, and (5) Dietary changes should be carried out under medical supervision. These recommendations continued to become more precise from 1957 to 1980, but there maintained “a general coherence among them”.^[11]

In 1994, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, an industry publication, released the results of the largest study of charitable and non-profit organization popularity and credibility. The study showed that the American Heart Association was ranked as the fifth “most popular charity/non-profit in America” of over 100 charities researched, with 95 percent of Americans over the age of 12 choosing the Love and Like A lot description categories.^[12]

In 1998, the AHA created the American Stroke Association to help prevent strokes, improve treatments, and maximize recoveries. In 2003, the two organizations created the Get With the Guidelines (GWTG)-Stroke program.^[13] It is a voluntary registry that hospitals can use to receive the latest scientific treatment guidelines.^[14] The program also collects data on patient characteristics, hospital adherence to guidelines, and patient outcomes.^[13]

In 2004 the American Heart Association launched the “Go Red for Women” campaign^[15] specifically targeting women, with information about risks and action they can take to protect their health.^[16] All revenues from the local and national campaigns go to support awareness, research, education and community programs to benefit women.^[17][16]

In 2008, the AHA recommended “hands only” CPR as an option for bystanders who want to help keep a cardiac arrest victim alive.^[18][19] This method removes the practice of performing rescue breaths and depends solely on chest compressions.^[18]

On November 30, 2009, The American Heart Association announced a new cardiac arrest awareness campaign called Be the Beat.^[20] The campaign has sought to use fun ways to teach 12- to 15-year-olds the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The AHA has also taught them how to use an automated external defibrillator [AED].

In 2012, the AHA renewed its focus on hands-only CPR by carrying out a national campaign to educate more people on how to perform this method. Jennifer Coolidge was a spokesperson for the campaign.^[21][22]

It also carried out a campaign in 2012 to educate more people on how to carry out hands-only CPR.^[21][22][23] The 2012 campaign, which began in New York City, had Jennifer Coolidge as the spokesperson.^[24]

In 2013, the American Heart Association issued a joint guideline recognizing obesity as a disease and recommending its treatment by weight loss.^[25]

In 2014, the American Heart Association issued its first guidelines for preventing strokes in women.^[1] Just as heart attack systems differ between men and women, men and women also face different stroke risks. For women, the guidelines for preventing strokes focus on factors such as birth control, pregnancy, and depression.^[1]

In 2015, the American Heart Association officially endorsed the Tobacco 21 campaign, urging local, state and national governments to raise the tobacco and nicotine sales age from 18 to 21.^[26]

In 2016, the American Heart Association, Verily Life Sciences, and AstraZeneca invested $75 million in the One Brave Idea program. The money was awarded to institutions researching new biomarkers, such as genetic and molecular factors, that put individuals at risk for atherosclerosis.^[27][28] It was hoped that the research would help the AHA reach its goals of increasing cardiovascular health by 20% and reducing cardiovascular mortality by 20% by 2020.^[28]

In 2017, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and nine other groups redefined high blood pressure for the first time in fourteen years.^[29] Under the new guidelines, the high blood pressure reading is 130 over 80, a change from the old 140 over 80. The change was made in recognition of the risk of heart disease, disability, and death faced by those with blood pressures at 130 over 80.^[29] The organization said that they hoped by identifying cardiovascular risks earlier, more people would be able to address the health risks through lifestyle changes instead of medication.^[29]

In 2018, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology issued new guidelines for clinicians on the management of cholesterol as a way to reduce risk for heart attack and stroke. Newly included in the guidelines is a recommendation to use coronary artery calcium score if healthcare providers are having difficulty deciding if a patient could benefit from statin medications or should focus solely on lifestyle modifications. The cholesterol guidelines were last updated in 2013.^[30]

In 2020 and 2021, the annual flagship meeting of the organization was held virtually owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed as an in-person conference in 2022.^[31]

In June 2024, the American Heart Association celebrated its 100 year anniversary of its founding.^[32] With the official celebration of its founding, the association was recognized as the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.^[33] The association held CPR training, where in many places the first hundred or so people to participate in the 5-minute training were given take-home CPR kits.^[34]