The world’s leading cause of death? Cardiovascular disease (CVD).
CVD claims more than 20 million lives every year worldwide — yet as many as 80% of those deaths are preventable. In the United States, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women, and it often develops silently. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can damage the heart for years without obvious symptoms, which is why acting early matters so much.
Prevention saves lives. While knowing the risks and taking steps to protect our heart health is important, a heart transplant can provide another path forward when heart disease progresses beyond what prevention and treatment can address.
More than 4,000* people in the US are waiting for a heart transplant, and 64 of them are right here in Arizona. Every single one of them is hoping for a second chance at life, and that chance begins with someone choosing to register as a donor. One decision can mean the difference between waiting and receiving the gift of life.
*Data subject to change based on future data submission or correction. This report shows Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network (OPTN) data for Organ by State through September 22, 2026. OPTN Data is updated monthly. Totals may be less than sums due to candidates included in multiple categories.
Don’t Miss a Beat
World Heart Day (WHD), celebrated on Sept. 29, shines a light on heart health. The day was established by the World Heart Federation in 2000 alongside the World Health Organization. The goal is to unite people around the fight against cardiovascular disease by educating the public about heart disease and stroke and encouraging habits that protect hearts and save lives.
“Don’t Miss a Beat” is this year’s theme highlighting how heart disease can hide in plain sight with warning signs going unnoticed. Learn more about the symptoms, solutions and systems important in recognizing CVD at the World Heart Federation.
Why Heart Health Matters
Many habits that protect the heart — eating well, staying active, managing stress and not smoking — are within reach for most people. But heart disease doesn’t affect all communities equally. People in some racial and ethnic communities face higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, often because of limited access to health care and healthy food.
A healthy heart protects your future. For thousands of people, heart health is a matter of life and death: when the heart fails, a transplant can be the only hope.
A Story of Hope
WHD isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about the lives changed because someone chose to give. For heart transplant recipient Laura Gober, that decision gave her a second chance at life.
Laura Gober never saw it coming. A healthy, active woman, she had no history of high blood pressure or heart disease, so when sarcoidosis — an autoimmune disorder — attacked her heart, it came as a complete shock.
Her health declined quickly. Within just three months, her heart function plummeted to 15%, and doctors made it clear that a transplant was her only path forward. Laura was placed on the waiting list, and a month later, in March 2023, she received her gift of life at Mayo Clinic Phoenix.
Recovery wasn’t easy. Complications from a stroke slowed her healing and tested her patience. But with her new heart, she found the strength to keep going — and to appreciate every single day.
“I never take one minute for granted,” Laura says. “I’m closer with my family and friends because we know how fragile life can be.”
Today, Laura writes to her donor family to let them know their loved one’s heart is doing well — and she shares her story as living proof that organ donation saves lives.
To hear stories like Laura, click here.
How You Can Make a Difference
World Heart Day is an opportunity to start conversations, learn about heart disease and take steps toward a healthier future.
You can make a difference by:
- Knowing your numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
- Moving more and eating heart-healthy foods
- Learning the warning signs of heart attack and stroke
- Registering as an organ and tissue donor — a healthy heart can save a life
Every beat matters. And for the thousands of people waiting for a heart transplant, a registered donor represents hope. To register as an organ and tissue donor in Arizona, click here.