Are you doing everything possible to prevent a heart attack or stroke?

Dear Reader,

Information about health is often accompanied by numbers — how many people have this disease, what's the risk of developing that condition. Then there are more personal numbers, such as your targets for blood pressure and cholesterol. Understanding all those numbers can be confusing, and much of what the Harvard Heart Letter does is help you make sense of them.

Here's a big-picture number: Two million. That's how many Americans have a heart attack or stroke every year. Of course, if you or someone you love ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is spearheading the Million Hearts initiative. We spoke with the CDC's director, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, about how the initiative will improve the care of people with heart disease and those unknowingly headed toward it.

Do you think people realize just how much their health is affected by high blood pressure, smoking, lack of exercise, and other conditions or choices?

No. I think people are hit with a cacophony of voices and, understandably, have trouble tuning into things that are truly important ...

For people who have had a heart attack or are at risk of having one, a daily aspirin can be an effective prevention measure.

Blood pressure gets so much attention because uncontrolled hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Managing cholesterol involves more than just changing eating habits.

Smoking just a few cigarettes a day carries as much heart disease risk as smoking a pack a day, and secondhand smoke exposes nonsmokers to risk as well.

Fruits and vegetables provide a foundation for healthy eating.

Adding regular physical activity to your daily routine is easier than you might think.

Changes in health care laws and policies are aimed at helping people make choices that can improve their health.

The key components of weight loss are taking in fewer calories and, through physical activity, burning more calories than consumed.

A reduction in body mass index could offset age-related increase in heart disease risk.

A pocket-sized ultrasound device could give doctors more flexibility in monitoring patient progress.

A pacemaker-like device may provide help to people who are unable to control their blood pressure through standard treatments.

I am 77 years old, and my doctor recommended surgery to replace my aortic valve. He said my choice is between a mechanical valve and a pig valve. Which is the preferred option?

After a heart attack six years ago, I went on Lipitor because my doctor said it was proven to reduce the risk of a second heart attack. Three years ago, I switched to a generic to save money. Now that Lipitor is going generic, should I switch back?