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| Home » Healthy heart nutrition » Heart Disease and Stroke |
| Heart Disease and Stroke Heart disease and stroke?the principal components of cardiovascular disease?are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for more than 40% of all deaths. About 950,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each year, which amounts to one death every 33 seconds. Although cardiovascular disease is often thought to primarily affect men and older people, it is a major killer of women and people in the prime of life. More than half of all cardiovascular disease deaths each year occur among women. Deaths Only Part of the Picture A consideration of deaths alone understates the burden of cardiovascular disease. About 61 million Americans (almost one-fourth of the population) live with this disease. Heart disease is a leading cause of disability among working adults. Stroke alone accounts for disability among more than 1 million Americans. Almost 6 million hospitalizations each year are due to cardiovascular disease. The economic impact of cardiovascular disease on the U.S. health care system continues to grow as the population ages. The estimated cost of cardiovascular disease in the United States in 2001 is $298 billion, including health care expenditures and lost productivity. Risk Behaviors Are Largely Responsible Three health-related behaviors practiced by people every day contribute markedly to cardiovascular disease: Tobacco use. Smokers have twice the risk for heart attack of nonsmokers. Nearly one-fifth of all deaths from cardiovascular disease, or about 190,000 deaths a year, are smoking-related. Every day, more than 3,000 young people become daily smokers. Lack of physical activity. People who are sedentary have twice the risk for heart disease of those who are active. More than half of U. S. adults do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Poor nutrition. People who are overweight have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Almost 60% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Only 18% of women and 20% of men report eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Modifying these behaviors is critical both for preventing and for controlling cardiovascular disease. Other steps that adults who have cardiovascular disease should take to reduce their risk of death and disability include adhering to treatment for high blood pressure and cholesterol, using aspirin as appropriate, learning the symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and seeking help as soon as these symptoms arise. source:CDC/GOV |
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