Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States.
Cardiovascular disease is the cause of more deaths than the next five causes of death combined, which are cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, diabetes mellitus, and flu/pneumonia.
Worldwide, coronary heart disease killed more than 7.6 million people in 2005.
In 2009 alone, heart disease is projected to cost more than $304.6 billion, including health care services, medications, and lost productivity.
Every 34 seconds a person in the United States dies from heart disease.
More than 2,500 Americans die from heart disease each day.
Every 20 seconds, a person in the United States has a heart attack.
About 6 million hospitalizations each year in the United States are due to cardiovascular disease.
It is estimated that 47 percent of cardiac deaths occur before emergency services or transport to the hospital.
At least 250,000 people die of heart attacks each year before they even reach a hospital.
Studies among people without heart disease have shown that lowering high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure can reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
