The American Heart Association's 2026 Report Reveals What You Need to Know About Your Heart

Every year, the American Heart Association releases a detailed report on heart disease and stroke statistics—and the 2026 update is packed with important information that affects millions of Americans. This isn't just another medical report gathering dust on a shelf. It's a comprehensive look at what's happening with our hearts, our blood vessels, and our overall cardiovascular health, based on the most current data available.

What's New in the 2026 Report?

The American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee spent an entire year compiling this update, reviewing published research and monitoring health data across the United States and globally. What makes this year's edition special is the addition of a brand-new chapter focused on cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome—a condition that links heart health, kidney function, and metabolic issues together. The report also expanded its coverage of tobacco and nicotine use and exposure, recognizing how these substances continue to threaten cardiovascular health.

Why This Report Matters to You

The 2026 Statistics Update covers a wide range of heart and circulatory conditions that affect real people every day. These include stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and peripheral artery disease. But it goes beyond just listing diseases—the report examines the underlying risk factors that lead to these conditions, including smoking, physical activity levels, nutrition, sleep quality, obesity, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and glucose control.

Who Created This Data?

This comprehensive report is the result of collaboration between dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. They continuously monitor and evaluate sources of cardiovascular health data to provide the most current information available. The goal is to give the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, and health advocates the best available data on heart disease and stroke factors and conditions.

What You Can Do With This Information

Understanding your cardiovascular risk factors is the first step toward better heart health. The 2026 report emphasizes that heart disease and stroke aren't inevitable—they're influenced by behaviors and health factors you can actually track and modify. Whether it's managing your blood pressure, keeping cholesterol in check, staying physically active, eating well, getting quality sleep, or quitting tobacco, the data shows these actions matter.

The American Heart Association's annual Statistics Update serves as a critical resource for anyone wanting to understand the current state of heart health in America. By staying informed about these trends and risk factors, you're taking an important step toward protecting your own cardiovascular health and making informed decisions with your doctor.