Some basics about heart disease

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

In 2006, 631,600 people died of heart disease.  The disease caused 26 percent of all deaths in the United States.

The most common form of heart disease is coronary heart disease.  In 2005, 445,687 people died from coronary heart disease.

An estimated 785,000 men and women each year in the U.S. suffer a first heart attack. Another 470,000 who have experienced one or more heart attacks have another attack.

Heart disease caused the U.S. $304.6 billion in 2009.  This figure includes the cost of health care services, medications and lost productivity.  ABC news reported Dec 17, 2009 that the cost is estimated at US$503 billion in 2010.

Data cited from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By Jimmy Downs