National Heart Council

Since its founding, the National Heart Council has focused on supporting emergency training, funding lifesaving equipment, and developing educational materials aimed at reducing the toll of heart attack and heart disease.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off entirely, usually due to a blocked artery. Recognizing the warning signs quickly — chest pressure or pain lasting more than a couple of minutes, pain radiating to the jaw or arms, shortness of breath, sweating, or sudden dizziness — and getting to a hospital immediately can make a significant difference in outcomes.

Education remains one of the Council’s central focuses, since public understanding of heart attack symptoms and appropriate emergency response has a direct, measurable effect on survival rates. Materials developed and distributed by the Council are aimed at hospitals, community organizations, and the general public alike, covering everything from basic warning-sign recognition to guidance for families navigating recovery after a heart attack.

Prevention is treated with equal weight. Diet, exercise, and awareness of personal risk factors remain the most effective long-term tools for reducing heart attack and heart disease risk, alongside routine screening and honest conversations with a physician about personal and family history.

NEMA, through the National Heart Council, continues to support education and awareness aimed at reducing the impact of heart disease nationwide.