The American Heart Association has launched the Cherish Your Heartbeat public awareness campaign in Charleston to encourage Lowcountry residents to take control of their cardiovascular health. Sponsored by MUSC Health, the effort focuses on educating the public about individual risk for heart disease and stroke and motivating people to act by scheduling appointments with health care professionals and monitoring key health metrics.
The campaign emphasizes learning and tracking important health numbers and working with clinicians to develop personalized plans that address individual risks. It points people to AHA resources, including guidance on reducing risk and the organization’s online materials at heart.org/risk.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and the American Heart Association reports that several major risk factors are continuing to rise nationally, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The campaign highlights the heightened importance of awareness and prevention in South Carolina, where the South Carolina Department of Health reports that approximately one in three adults have been told by a doctor they have hypertension.
The AHA notes that many people may have high blood pressure and other risk factors without knowing it. The campaign therefore prioritizes screening, detection, and early engagement with health care teams so individuals can learn their personal risk and receive appropriate guidance.
The campaign calls attention to preventable or manageable risk factors that substantially increase the likelihood of heart attack and stroke. These include hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar, among others. The AHA underscores that these conditions can often be detected through routine screenings and can be addressed through a combination of clinical care and lifestyle changes.
The AHA recommends regular health screenings and appropriate medication management when clinically indicated. In parallel, the campaign promotes lifestyle measures such as balanced nutrition, increased physical activity, and stress management as essential components of risk reduction.
Central messages of the campaign encourage residents to:
Anthony Poole, board chair of the American Heart Association, Charleston and director of quality assessment and performance improvement at MUSC Health, is quoted in the campaign materials: “Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health.” The message reinforces that understanding risk enables people to take meaningful steps to reduce their chances of heart attack or stroke.
The Cherish Your Heartbeat campaign runs through the fall and is sponsored by MUSC Health. Materials and further information are available via the American Heart Association’s website, including the online resource heart.org/risk and information about Life's Essential 8. The AHA also provides multimedia assets and logos, which are subject to the organization’s multimedia usage policy.
Local residents are urged to prioritize heart health now by arranging clinical visits and following recommended preventive strategies.
The American Heart Association describes itself as a longstanding source of health information focused on improving cardiovascular outcomes through research, advocacy, and public education. The organization provides resources, funds research, and advocates for community health initiatives.
For media inquiries and additional campaign information, the AHA listed a media contact and the national public inquiries phone number. The campaign release references availability of campaign graphics and further materials under the AHA/ASA Multimedia Materials Usage Policy, and directs readers to heart.org and stroke.org for broader organizational information.