The American Heart Association regularly releases guidelines and scientific statements for preventing and treating heart disease and stroke.

What do these guidelines mean for you? Should you change your medications? Should you see a doctor for treatment? How do you know if you’re healthy? You’ll find answers here in the Guidelines Resource Center.


HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

In November 2017, the rules changed about what classifies as high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Experts looking at all the newest data defined hypertension as a reading of 130 on the top or 80 on the bottom. In the past, the standard was 140/90.

Dr. John Warner, president of the American Heart Association, discusses the 2017 high blood pressure guidelines with Dr. Paul Whelton, chair of the group that wrote the recommendations.


PREVENTION

The latest heart disease and stroke prevention guidelines for doctors, released in November 2013 by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, urge them to help you avoid heart disease and stroke by prescribing drugs called statins for some of you, treating obesity as a disease and giving you other resources to stay healthy.

Understanding the Prevention Guidelines: A Conversation With AHA CEO Nancy Brown and former AHA presidents Dr. Mariell Jessup and Dr. Sid Smith.


HEART DISEASE

Heart disease includes numerous conditions, and the American Heart Association regularly releases guidelines for how to diagnose, treat and prevent these problems.


STROKE

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability for Americans. Guidelines from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association provide the best scientific evidence for how to treat strokes and how to help people at risk.


Additional Resources:

Former AHA president Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, who served on the volunteer task force overseeing development of the prevention guidelines, answers basic guidelines questions.


SCIENTIFIC STATEMENTS

The American Heart Association publishes scientific statements explaining research on heart disease and stroke.