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Supporting AANHPI Health

We support the health and wellness of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community.
small Asian family portrait at home forming hearts with their hands and arms

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) adults who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting have a substantially lower chance of receiving bystander CPR. During AANHPI Heritage Month, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, encourages families to learn Hands-Only CPR and be ready to act during a cardiac emergency.

45%
of the AANHPI community feels confident that they could correctly perform Hands-Only CPR
46%
of AANHPI individuals surveyed are likely to perform CPR
35%
of AANHPI individuals are hesitant to perform Hands-Only CPR because they are worried they will hurt the person

Take 60 seconds and watch the Hands-Only CPR video. Then share it with family and friends. Together we can help save more lives.

 
The video is available in additional languages:
Hands-Only CPR video in Hindi
Hands-Only CPR video in Mandarin
Hands-Only CPR video in Telugu
 

Survivor Story: Kumar Seetharam

Lifelong tennis player, Kumar Seetharam, experienced a heart attack on the court. “That was the scariest moment,” said Kumar, who is 65. “It was the first sign that something really bad could happen to me.”

Now, three years later, he plays 30 minutes of tennis a day and walks for 30 minutes. He supplements with yoga, weightlifting and cardio dance classes with his daughter, Faith.
 

Read Kumar’s story

Flavors of the AANHPI Community

Healthy recipes and information on Asian cuisine
Coconut Curry Halibut with Green Beans and Roasted Red Bell Peppers

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Halibut
Spicy Asian Salad Cups

Spicy Asian Salad Cups
Sweet and Sour Pork Fried Rice recipe

Sweet and Sour Pork Fried Rice
Avocado Shrimp Summer Spring Roll

Avocado and Shrimp Spring Rolls
Celebrating Heart-Healthy Asian Heritage Cuisine info sheet

Asian Heritage Diets (in multiple languages)

Go Red for Women Class of Survivors

Watch and listen as these members of the 2026 Go Red for Women Class of Survivors from the AANHPI community share their powerful heart disease and stroke survivor stories inspiring others to take charge of their own health and mental well-being.

Alex Wilson-Garza

Alex’s Survivor Story

Priti Langer

Priti’s Survivor Story

The Legacy Series: AANHPI Changemakers

Scroll to read about these influential members of the AANHPI community.
  • A professional headshot of Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD, FAHA

    Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD, FAHA
    Dr. Joseph C. Wu’s career bridges groundbreaking science, leadership and mentorship. He has helped advance precision medicine and cardiovascular research while elevating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voices in medicine. We honor Dr. Wu, a cardiologist and scientist, former American Heart Association president, and director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.

  • A professional headshot of Sadiya Sana Khan, MD, MSc, FAHA

    Sadiya S. Khan, MD, MSc, FAHA
    Dr. Sadiya S. Khan, preventive cardiologist and cardiovascular epidemiologist, chaired the writing group for the American Heart Association’s prevent risk calculator. Her work advances earlier, more accurate identification of cardiovascular risk to improve prevention nationwide.

  • A professional headshot of Manesh Patel, MD, FAHA

    Manesh Patel, MD, FAHA
    Dr. Manesh Patel is shaping the future of heart health nationwide. Dr. Patel, an interventional cardiologist, President-elect of the American Heart Association and chief of cardiology at Duke Health, has helped advance cardiovascular science, clinical trials and patient centered care while strengthening leadership pathways in medicine.

  • A professional headshot of Eugene Yang, MD, MS, FACC

    Eugene Yang, MD, MS, FACC
    Dr. Eugene Yang, professor of cardiology and holder of the Carl and Renée Behnke Endowed Chair for Asian Health, is a national leader in cardiovascular prevention. His research advances community informed approaches that recognize the importance of culture and data disaggregation in improving heart health outcomes.

  • A professional headshot of Thu H. Le, MD, FAHA

    Thu H. Le, MD, FAHA
    Dr. Thu H. Le, a professor of medicine and chair of the American Heart Association’s Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, is a leading voice in understanding the connection between hypertension, kidney disease and heart health. Her work continues to inform research, clinical practice and prevention strategies nationwide.

  • A professional headshot of Katsuhide Maeda, MD, PhD

    Katsuhide Maeda, MD, PhD
    At Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Katsuhide Maeda is pushing the boundaries of pediatric cardiovascular care. His leadership in mechanical circulatory support and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is giving infants with complex congenital heart disease a second chance at life.

  • Tetsuzo Akutsu, MD, PhD is smiling in a suit and tie.

    Tetsuzo Akutsu, MD, PhD
    Dr. Tetsuzo Akutsu, a Japanese-American, was a world-renowned expert in artificial heart development. He was a member of the team that implanted a total artificial heart in an animal. His work led to the implantation of an artificial heart in a human in 1981.