Heart Disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each year. That is about 29% of all U.S. deaths. Heart disease is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.
The risk of coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control those adverse factors that put people at greater risk for heart disease and heart attack. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack, calling 911 right away, and getting to a hospital are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have had a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of future events.
CDC Fact Sheet for Men
- In 2005, 322,841 men died from heart disease, the leading cause of death for men in the United States.1
- The age-adjusted death rate for heart disease in men was 260 per 100,000 population in 2005.1
- About 9.4% of all white men, 7.1% of black men, and 5.6% of Mexican American men live with coronary heart disease.2
- The average age of a first heart attack for men is 66 years.7
- Almost half of men who have a heart attack under age 65 die within 8 years.4
- Results from the Framingham Heart Study suggest that men have a 49% lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease after the age of 40.4
- Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events occur in men.4
- Major risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, diabetes, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition.5
- In a large study of blood pressure treatment and control, an average reduction of 12 to 13 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure over 4 years of follow-up was associated with a 21% reduction in coronary heart disease, 37% reduction in stroke, and 13% reduction in all-cause mortality rates.6
- Studies suggest that a 10% decrease in total cholesterol levels may reduce the development of coronary heart disease by as much as 30%
CDC Fact Sheet for Women
For this fact sheet, the term "heart disease" refers to the broadest category of "diseases of the heart" as defined by the International Classification of Diseases and used by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. This category includes acute rheumatic fever, chronic rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and any other heart condition or disease.
- Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease," it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States and women account for 51% of the total heart disease deaths.
- Of the 1,244,123 deaths among women in 2002, 28.6% were due to diseases of the heart.
- Awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women:
- Good news: According to surveys by the American Heart Association, the percentage of women who spontaneously identified heart disease as the number one killer of women increased from 30% in 1997 to 46% in 2003.
- Bad news: Only 13% of the women in the 2003 survey perceived heart disease as their greatest health problem. While this is an increase from the 7% level in 1997, it still reflects an attitude that heart disease is "not my problem."
- Heart disease is often perceived as an "older woman's disease," and it is the leading cause of death among women aged 65 years and older. However, heart disease is the 3rd leading cause of death among women aged 25–44 years and the 2nd leading cause of death among women aged 45–64 years.
- In 2002, age-adjusted death rates for heart disease were higher among black women (169.7 per 100,000) than among white women (131.2 per 100,000).
There is a range of risk for heart disease depending on family and personal health history and the treatment recommendations from a physician will depend on a woman's level of risk. Regardless of the risk level, these lifestyle modifications are recommended for all women:
- Cigarette smoking cessation
- 30 minutes physical activity most days
- Heart-healthy diet
- Weight maintenance/reduction
- Evaluation and treatment of depression