Heart Disease
Heart disease is Wisconsin's top killer. Let's change that together.
Heart disease refers to conditions that affect the heart's functioning and blood flow to it. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease).
Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart harden and narrow, a process called atherosclerosis. This results in less blood flow to the heart and is the usual cause of heart attacks. The good news is that much of this process can be prevented, and you can help.
Explore what the numbers say about heart health in Wisconsin communities using the interactive heart disease map.
What you can do
Take charge of your heart health today! Anyone can benefit from participating in heart healthy behaviors. Explore these resources on tips on living a heart-healthy life.
Start your heart health journey with lifestyle changes. Get guidance from your health care provider and use these resources to help you:
- Know your blood pressure numbers. Learn more about healthy and unhealthy blood pressure ranges. Visit the American Heart Association's Understanding Blood Pressure Readings.
- Know your cholesterol levels. For more information about what cholesterol is and what your levels mean, visit Control Your Cholesterol and Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol.
- Understand your blood glucose (sugar) levels. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Visit Know Your Numbers - Know Diabetes by Heart to learn more.
- Get active and eat nutritious foods to maintain a healthy weight. Find help in our index of public resources supporting physical activity and nutrition.
- Don't smoke or get the help you need to quit. Visit the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line or call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) for free access to coaching and medication to help you quit.
You can get blood pressure measurements between your medical appointments. Monitoring and knowing your blood pressure helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle. It also helps you understand your risks. People who did home blood pressure monitoring experienced better blood pressure control according to a 2018 Harvard Medical School study.
There may be locations in your community where you can have you blood pressure checked at no cost. Ask your health care provider, pharmacist, or local health department for a list of places near you.
You may decide to get a blood pressure monitor for home use. Work with your care team members to determine what will work best for you. The American Heart Association has online tips for taking your blood pressure at home.
The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging offers Living Well with Chronic Conditions. This program supports people with high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, depression, and obesity. Learn more at the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging website.
The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging offers Living Well with Chronic Conditions. This program supports people with high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, depression, and obesity. Learn more at the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging website.
Be an active part in your own care. Before your medical visit, think about health problems to talk about with your provider. Write down your health history. Make a list of your medications. Those items can help you and your provider communicate.
If you don't understand something, ask questions. Bring a family member or trusted friend to your appointments for support and to take notes.
Some health systems offer online health portals that connect to electronic health records. These portals may also allow you to communicate with your providers. You can use it to track progress to your goals and communicate with your care team.
Follow your doctor's instructions to take your medication to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Always ask questions if you don't understand something.
Request a comprehensive medication review from your pharmacist. They review all the medications you are taking to make sure that they work well together. Have the pharmacist explain how your medications work to maintain your heart health.
Partners and initiatives
Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance
The Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance is a coalition working to improve heart health statewide. The group meets virtually three times a year. Meetings include discussions of success stories and best practices from heart health experts.
We welcome individuals and organizations to join us.
Email DHSChronicDiseasePrevention@dhs.wisconsin.gov for details.
Wisconsin Heart Health Learning Collaboratives
Heart Health Learning Collaboratives (HHLC) are a statewide initiative led by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CDPP) and local organizations to address heart health gaps through community-clinical linkages. This method allows teams to pilot new ideas, share tools, and refine activities based on evidence and lived experience. CDPP is supporting five models of HHLCs across the state focused on reducing hypertension and high cholesterol among Wisconsin’s most affected populations.
Learn how to be involved with Heart Health Learning Collaboratives near you.