American Heart Association

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: Co-developer of the Fifth Universal Definition

For decades, the blood test for heart attacks used a single threshold for every patient. That threshold caught nearly all men having heart attacks but missed some women, because women naturally carry lower levels of the heart-injury protein troponin. The world's four leading cardiovascular organizations just agreed on the first universal definition of a heart attack, and it corrects that bias.

Updated Sep 10

New Capabilities

As of July 2026: Funded the research; co-author of 2026 guidelines

Most Americans who get their cholesterol checked receive an LDL test. A Northwestern Medicine study says a different, rarely ordered test would catch more of the people about to have a heart attack.

Updated Jul 7

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Key influence on dietary guidelines

For seven decades, nutrition scientists have debated whether to cut carbs or fat for a healthy heart. A new Harvard study of nearly 200,000 Americans over 30 years found that both approaches work equally well. What matters is choosing whole grains, vegetables, and plant proteins over processed foods and red meat.

Updated May 29