Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.¹ Nearly 18 million people around the world die as a result of cardiovascular disease (CVD) each year, accounting for 31 percent of all deaths. Over 75 percent of CVD deaths occur in middle or low income nations, and 85 percent of CVD related deaths are attributed to a heart attack or stroke.² The occurrence rate in men and women is nearly equal.³ Cardiovascular disease accounts for a series of disorders including hypertension or high blood pressure, coronary heart disease or heart attack, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies and rheumatic heart disease.⁴ The World Health Organization predicts that cardiovascular disease will remain the leading cause of death by 2030.⁵ A quarter of all deaths in the United States are caused by cardiovascular disease. Approximately 735,000 Americans have a heart attack each year.⁶ Cardiovascular disease is largely preventable by lessening a series of risk factors including poor diet, misuse of tobacco and alcohol, as well as increasing physical activity.⁷