Everybody knows someone who has been impacted by heart disease. This is not a coincidence. Heart disease is extremely common and can have serious long-term consequences. The good news is that – in a majority of cases – it can be prevented. If you are at risk of developing heart disease or have already been diagnosed, you should be aware of these 15 facts.
1. Heart disease affects a significant proportion of the population
Currently, in the United States alone, 28.2 million people have heart disease, which accounts for 11.5 percent of the population.
2. Heart attacks are very common
Studies estimate 720,000 people have their first heart attack in the United States every year. Another 335,000 people who have already had a heart attack will suffer another during any given 12-month period.
3. Heart attacks as responsible for many deaths
In the United States alone, a person dies of a heart attack every 40 seconds. Furthermore, every minute, more than one person in will die from an event related to heart disease. By numbers, approximately 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States annually. In fact, one in four people in the United States die due to heart disease.
4. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease
Coronary heart disease – also known as atherosclerosis – strikes when the coronary arteries (the blood vessels that bring oxygen to the heart) become too narrow for efficient blow flow. This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, or a heart attack. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease and is responsible for one in every seven deaths in the United States. Every year, coronary heart disease kills over 370,000 US residents.
5. Heart attacks generally occur in older individuals
The average age at which men have their first heart attack is 65.6 years, while the average age at which women have their first heart attack is 72.0 years. Proportionately, more males die of heart disease.
6. Major symptoms of heart disease
It is important to recognize the symptoms of heart disease so you can act accordingly, whether it’s you or someone else. The major symptoms include chest pain, discomfort or pain in the upper body, back, jaw or upper stomach, feeling short of breath, feeling nauseous or having cold sweats.
7. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease
In the United states, 37.7 percent of adults are obese. This is a huge risk factor for heart disease and the increasing obesity rate is likely contributing to the growing frequency of heart disease all around the world.
8. Heart disease disproportionately affects certain ethnicities
Yes, heart disease is the leading cause of death for most of the ethnic groups in the United States — African Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians. However, almost 50 percent of African Americans have some type of heart disease and among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska Natives, heart disease is the second leading cause of death after cancer.
9. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease
One in three, or 33 percent, of people in the United States have high LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) levels, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
10. Sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for heart disease
A whopping 30.4 percent of people in the United States don’t participate in any physical activity, which puts them at a significant disadvantage and increases their risk of developing heart disease.
11. Half of the US population has at least one of the three major risk factors for heart disease
Studies have shown that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are the three major risk factors for heart disease. Almost half of the people in the United states (49 percent) have at least one of these risk factors. In fact, 30 percent of people in the United States have high blood pressure, which is not only a risk factor for coronary heart disease but also for stroke and congestive heart failure.
12. Most out of hospital heart attacks occur in public
Approximately 47 percent of heart attacks that occur will take place outside of a hospital setting. Another very interesting fact is that 39.5 percent of heart attacks that take place out of the hospital occur in public areas. Additionally, 27.5 percent of heart attacks occur at a home while 18.2 percent take place in nursing homes.
13. Heart disease comes at a significant cost
In the United States alone, heart disease is estimated to cost $200 billion every year. This number includes utilization of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity in the workplace.
14. While heart disease remains very common, deaths due to coronary heart disease have declined
Between the years of 2005 to 2015, the death rate due to coronary heart disease reduced by 34.4 percent. However, the risk factors for coronary heart disease remain high as does the burden due to coronary heart disease.
15. Heart disease is preventable
In a majority of cases (80 percent), heart disease is preventable by making lifestyle modifications and through better patient education.
Sources & Links
- Mozaffarian, D., Benjamin, E. J., Go, A. S., Arnett, D. K., Blaha, M. J., Cushman, M., ... & Howard, V. J. (2016). Heart disease and stroke statistics-2016 update a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 133(4), e38-e48.
- Wilson, P. W., D’Agostino, R. B., Levy, D., Belanger, A. M., Silbershatz, H., & Kannel, W. B. (1998). Prediction of coronary heart disease using risk factor categories. Circulation, 97(18), 1837-1847.
- Writing Group Members, Lloyd-Jones, D., Adams, R. J., Brown, T. M., Carnethon, M., Dai, S., ... & Gillespie, C. (2010). Executive summary: heart disease and stroke statistics—2010 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 121(7), 948-954.
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth