The Heart of the Matter
Every year since 1963, the U.S. Congress has advised the President to sign legislation authorizing February as American Heart Month. Matters of the heart are important and the numbers speak for themselves.
In the United States heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. The most common form of heart disease in America is coronary heart disease (CHD) – which often occurs as a heart attack. If the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, a heart attack can occur. Heart disease is a broad term that encompasses several conditions that affect the heart. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a heart attack in 2009. Other CDC facts about heart disease are:
• In 2002, 696,947 people died of heart disease, 51% were women. This number accounted for 29% of all deaths in the U.S.
• An estimated 47% of heart related deaths occur prior to emergency services or transport to a hospital.
• In 2006, the projected cost for health care services, medications, and lost work related to heart disease is $258 billion.
• Over 70 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease.
• An estimated 1.2 million Americans have heart attacks annually.
• Worldwide, approximately 7 million people die every year as a result of CHD.
Other common heart conditions are: angina, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, and heart failure. There are several steps that people can take to reduce their risk for heart disease or a heart attack. These steps include: regular exercise, not using tobacco, healthy eating, losing weight/maintaining a healthy weight, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure, and moderating alcohol use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association are excellent resources for facts related to heart disease and also awareness programs related to heart disease prevention.
In the United States heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. The most common form of heart disease in America is coronary heart disease (CHD) – which often occurs as a heart attack. If the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, a heart attack can occur. Heart disease is a broad term that encompasses several conditions that affect the heart. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a heart attack in 2009. Other CDC facts about heart disease are:
• In 2002, 696,947 people died of heart disease, 51% were women. This number accounted for 29% of all deaths in the U.S.
• An estimated 47% of heart related deaths occur prior to emergency services or transport to a hospital.
• In 2006, the projected cost for health care services, medications, and lost work related to heart disease is $258 billion.
• Over 70 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease.
• An estimated 1.2 million Americans have heart attacks annually.
• Worldwide, approximately 7 million people die every year as a result of CHD.
Other common heart conditions are: angina, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, and heart failure. There are several steps that people can take to reduce their risk for heart disease or a heart attack. These steps include: regular exercise, not using tobacco, healthy eating, losing weight/maintaining a healthy weight, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure, and moderating alcohol use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association are excellent resources for facts related to heart disease and also awareness programs related to heart disease prevention.
WOW! these are great facts, I never would have known half of these.
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