Tennessee

The Tennessee American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in the community through four priority areas: Hypertension, Tobacco & Vaping, Nutrition Security, and CPR and AED Awareness

Problem: Hypertension: Nearly 40% of of adults in Tennessee have high blood pressure 

• Solution: The association is working with free clinics and community-based organizations throughout the Region to Establish blood pressure cuff loaner programs, and education and clinical referrals to at-risk populations.

Problem: Nutrition Insecurity: 1 in 9 people in Tennessee County live in a food desert. 800,970 people are facing hunger - and of them 197,490 are children.

• Solution: AHA has strategically placed cold storage units at local food pantries and youth-based organizations across the region allowing more As a people to access nutritious fruits and vegetables each month.

Problem: CPR/AED Awareness: Counties located in the south with higher proportions of rural areas, Black and Hispanic residents, and those with lower median household incomes all have lower rates of CPR training than other communities.

• Solution:  AHA is actively addressing this issue by offering Hands-Only CPR demonstrations to residents across Tennessee and donating CPR anytime Kits to schools, hospitals, and businesses in the region. Through these efforts, more individuals can join the Nation of Lifesavers, bridging the gap in CPR/AED awareness and improving community resilience.

Problem: Tobacco and Vaping: Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.

• Solution: we are working within schools and communities to teach our next generation about the dangers of smoking and vaping. We are also providing support for those who choose to quit.

AHA Advocates helped secure Tobacco 21 policy ensuring longer, quality lives for all Tennesseans.

We are fighting for longer lives in Tennessee by making the places where we live, learn, work, play, pray, and heal as healthy as they can be. It's no secret that under-resourced communities face great adversity and barriers that impact their heart health and overall well-being. 

With your support, we can expand our nutrition security, blood pressure management, and anti-smoking/vaping efforts so that more of our neighbors have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, health education, and medical care. Together we will tackle these issues head on, creating a healthier Tennessee for all.

On March 6th, advocates, legislators, and families affected by sudden cardiac arrest unite to rally support for Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in our schools. Tennessee Senator Joey Hensley and Representative Scott Cepicky lead the charge for the Smart Heart Act, urging colleagues to prioritize our children's health. Thanks to their efforts, the bill passed unanimously by the General Assembly, ensuring that every school campus across Tennessee has a cardiac emergency response plan in place to act swiftly when minutes matter most.