The seriousness of the problem of heart disease simply cannot be overstated. In 2008, more than 1.4 million Americans will suffer from a heart attack or stroke and more than 7 million people around the world die of heart disease each year.
Although heart disease was once thought to be primarily a mans problem, coronary heart disease is now recognized as posing an equal threat to men and women. In fact, 51% of deaths due to coronary artery disease now occur in women.
In addition, heart disease knows no racial boundaries; it is the leading cause of death among American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, black people and white people alike. Among Asians and Pacific Islanders, for whom cancer is the leading cause of death, heart disease follows closely behind, at a rate just one-tenth of one percent below the rate of cancer deaths.
When people use the term heart disease, theyre typically referring to coronary artery disease, or narrowing of the blood vessels - a condition that accounts for 71 percent of all heart disease deaths each year. Coronary artery disease can lead to sudden cardiac death - the leading cause of death in the United States today - as well as congestive heart failure, the leading cause of hospitalization for patients over the age of 60.
Why is heart disease so deadly? The answer lies, at least partially, in the fact that death due to heart disease often comes very suddenly - sometimes with no warning at all. In fact, about 47% of cardiac deaths occur before emergency help arrives or before the patient can be transported to a hospital.
Perhaps the most tragic thing about deaths due to heart disease is the fact that they are, in many cases, preventable. The key to avoiding or overcoming heart disease lies in managing the risk factors associated with it. Studies among people with heart disease have shown that lowering high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure can reduce the risk of death due to heart disease, the risk of suffering a nonfatal heart attack, and the risk of advanced heart disease requiring heart bypass surgery or angioplasty.