Coronary heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death and disability in the United States for both men and women. Almost half a million Americans die of coronary heart disease each year, and approximately half of these deaths are women. Preventing coronary heart disease remains the leading challenge to biomedical researchers and public health workers today. On the average, almost three Americans will suffer a heart attack every minute of the day, adding up to almost one and a half million attacks each year.

At the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the American Heart Association (AHA), we are committed to addressing this challenge by encouraging fundamental research on the causes and treatment of coronary heart disease and by strengthening our disease prevention and health promotion programs. We have seen a dramatic decline in coronary heart disease mortality during the past two decades. This has been accompanied by a growing interest in making lifestyle changes which can reduce the risks for coronary heart disease.

With prevention as our ultimate goal, the communication of health information to the public will continue to be an important part of our activities. We have long provided the public with educational materials to help reduce three primary risk factors: high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and high blood cholesterol. In recent years, the NHLBI and the AHA have addressed another major risk factor sedentary lifestyle, or physical inactivity. The results of various studies now show that regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of heart disease. It also can help control other contributing risk factors, including obesity and diabetes. We hope that this booklet will help to stimulate a sensible exercise program as one way of keeping a healthy heart.

We are delighted to join together to provide this message about physical activity. We believe that collaboration is one important way of performing common public health missions. Revising and distributing this publication is only one example of this ongoing partnership.

Edward S. Cooper, M.D.
President
American Heart Association

Claude M. Lenfant, M.D.
Director
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute