{"id":11198,"date":"2020-05-09T15:09:25","date_gmt":"2020-05-09T19:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=11198"},"modified":"2026-03-27T15:35:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T19:35:12","slug":"heart-disease-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/heart-disease-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart disease statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The heart is approximately the size of a single clenched fist, yet it&#8217;s one of the most important organs in the human body. Problems with the heart cause problems for the whole body, which is why heart disease is a prominent public health concern. Keep reading to get the facts on how common heart disease is in the United States and worldwide, plus risk factors and common treatments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/signs-of-heart-problems\/\"><b>15 signs of heart problems worth worrying about<\/b><\/a><b> | <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cardiac-arrest-vs-heart-attack\/\"><b>Cardiac arrest vs. heart attack<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-heart-disease\"><b>What is heart disease?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease (CVD), is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/heartdiseases.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Library of Medicine\u2019s MedlinePlus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These include coronary heart disease (CHD), heart valve problems, and heart muscle disorder (cardiomyopathy).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/heart-disease\/data-research\/facts-stats\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CDC). A diseased heart can cause death by heart attack, heart failure, and more. The good news is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet can help prevent many contributors to heart disease\u2014high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, among others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many heart conditions have no early symptoms at all, according to MedlinePlus. Fortunately, healthcare providers can easily<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/coronary-heart-disease\/diagnosis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">screen for heart disease at your annual checkup<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If a problem is suspected, your healthcare provider may order additional blood and imaging tests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-common-is-heart-disease\"><b>How common is heart disease?<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CVD is the world&#8217;s leading cause of death. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Health Organization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, CVD comprised 32% of deaths worldwide. (World Health Organization, 2021)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2021, 19.9 million people died from heart disease, which was an increase of over 7 million deaths since 1990. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/suppl\/10.1161\/CIR.0000000000001209\/suppl_file\/global%20cvd%20statistics%20supplement.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Heart Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CVD causes more than twice as many deaths as cancer each year. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/world-heart-federation.org\/resource\/cardiovascular-disease-infographic\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Heart Federation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"worldwide-heart-disease-statistics\"><b>Worldwide heart disease statistics<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of CVD-related deaths per year is increasing worldwide\u2014going from 12.3 million in 1990 to 19.9 million in 2021. (American Heart Association, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2021, the countries with the highest CVD mortality rate were Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Uzbekistan. (Our World in Data, 2023)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In\u00a0 2021, the countries with the lowest CVD mortality rate were San Marino, South Korea, and Japan. (Our World in Data<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2023)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure is the top risk factor contributing to CVD-related deaths, followed by diet and fine particle air pollution. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(American Heart Association, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"u-s-heart-disease-statistics\"><b>U.S. heart disease statistics<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 2017 and 2020, 48.6% of U.S. adults had some form of CVD. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/-\/media\/PHD-Files-2\/Science-News\/2\/2024-Heart-and-Stroke-Stat-Update\/2024-Statistics-At-A-Glance-final_2024.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Heart Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 out of every 5 deaths in the United States is a result of CVD. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2021, CHD made up 40.3% of CVD-related deaths in the United States, followed by stroke (17.5%). (American Heart Association 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/blood-pressure-treatment-and-medications\/\"><b>Hypertension treatments &amp; medications<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heart-disease-statistics-by-state\"><b>Heart disease statistics by state<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/pressroom\/sosmap\/heart_disease_mortality\/heart_disease.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">top 10 states<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with the highest age-adjusted CVD death rate (per 100,000 total population) in 2022 were:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oklahoma (257.1)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mississippi (248)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alabama (234.2)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arkansas (224.1)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Louisiana (224)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tennessee (218.3)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Virginia (209.5)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kentucky (208.6)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michigan (206.3)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missouri (199.8)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of 2021, the states with the highest percentage of populations with hypertension were:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mississippi (43.9)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Virginia (43.4)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alabama (42.7)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arkansas (40.7)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Louisiana (40.2)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americashealthrankings.org\/explore\/measures\/Hypertension\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">America&#8217;s Health Rankings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to obesity, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3250069\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a high risk factor for heart disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, these states have the highest percentage among their populations:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Virginia (41.0)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Louisiana (40.1)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oklahoma (40.0)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mississippi (39.5)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tennessee (38.9)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(America&#8217;s Health Rankings)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heart-disease-statistics-by-gender\"><b>Heart disease statistics by gender<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average age at the first heart attack is 65.6 years for males and 72.0 years for females, according to data from 2005 to 2014. (American Heart Association, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men are more likely than women to have a heart attack. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/heart-disease-and-stroke\/heart-disease\/heart-attack-and-women\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OASH Office on Women&#8217;s Health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women who have a heart attack are more likely to die than their male counterparts. (OASH Office on Women\u2019s Health, 2021)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/womens-heart-problems\/\"><b>Women\u2019s heart health<\/b><\/a><b> | <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/mens-heart-health-tips\/\"><b>Men\u2019s heart health<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heart-disease-statistics-by-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-states\"><b>Heart disease statistics by race and ethnicity in the United States<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From 2017\u20132020, non-Hispanic Black females and males had the highest prevalence of CVD. (American Heart Association 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease caused 11.9% of deaths among Hispanic people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease caused 15.5% of deaths among American Indian or Alaska Native people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease caused 18% of deaths among White (non-Hispanic) people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease caused 18.3% of deaths among Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease caused 18.6% of deaths among Asian people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease caused 22.6% of deaths among Black (non-Hispanic) people in the United States in 2021. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"heart-attack-and-stroke-statistics\"><b>Heart attack and stroke statistics<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) and strokes occur in the United States each year. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/millionhearts.hhs.gov\/learn-prevent\/cost-consequences.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Million Hearts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2021, stroke caused about 1 in every 21 deaths in the United States (American Heart Association, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the United States, about 9.3% of people who had a heart attack outside a medical facility in 2022 survived long enough to receive emergency treatment and be admitted and then discharged from the hospital. (American Heart Association, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each year, approximately 605,000 new heart attacks and 200,000 recurrent heart attacks occur in the United States. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approximately 1 in 5 heart attacks are silent, meaning that the damage is done without the person experiencing symptoms. (CDC, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"the-cost-of-heart-disease\"><b>The cost of heart disease<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 2019 and 2020, CVD cost the United States $422.3 billion in healthcare services and lost productivity. (American Heart Association, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending on CVD hospitalizations is responsible for 15% of total U.S. healthcare spending. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/CIRCOUTCOMES.123.009999\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2024)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individuals with hypertension spend, on average, $1,920 per year more on health care than individuals without hypertension in the United States. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29848493\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of the American Heart Association<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2018)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"causes-of-heart-disease\"><b>Causes of heart disease<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyone reading these sobering statistics might wonder: What causes heart disease in the first place? Causes vary depending on the person and type of heart disease, but many factors can increase a person&#8217;s risk of developing a cardiovascular disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the National Library of Medicine, possible causes of heart disease include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifestyle (such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and tobacco or alcohol use)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genetics (family history of heart disease)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having other conditions, such as:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metabolic syndrome<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High cholesterol\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autoimmune or inflammatory disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic kidney disease (CKD)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that&#8217;s not all.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/news\/2020\/02\/04\/chronic-stress-can-cause-heart-trouble\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic stress can cause heart problems, too<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, according to the American Heart Association. That means people experiencing chronic stress due to interpersonal issues, housing insecurity, financial troubles, or other reasons might have a higher risk of CVD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-prevent-heart-disease\"><b>How to prevent heart disease<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s no changing genetics, but there are steps you can take to keep heart disease at bay. \u201cThe key is finding strategies that resonate with each individual,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.integrated.doctor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anthony Kaveh<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, an integrated medicine specialist. \u201cWe all bring our own histories and experiences to our health, and we need to find integrated approaches that resonate with our experiences to engage in healthy lifestyle choices consistently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AHA offers a list of eight key health factors and behaviors to consider when working to improve cardiovascular health:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nutrition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDiet is the cornerstone to preventing heart disease,\u201d Dr. Kaveh says. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10128075\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suggests that diets rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and legumes are good for heart health. Examples include the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anti-inflammatory-diet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/dash-diet-food-list\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DASH diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And, don\u2019t forget drinks: Men should limit alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day, and women should not drink more than one alcoholic beverage per day.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Physical activity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After focusing on diet, Dr. Kaveh suggests focusing on physical activity.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamacardiology\/fullarticle\/2664268\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suggests that even just one to three weekly workouts help protect against cardiovascular disease. However, a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/physical-activity-basics\/guidelines\/adults.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 minutes of physical activity five times a week<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stopping smoking<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the United States, smoking is the leading risk factor for years of life lost to premature mortality, according to the AHA. If you are struggling to quit smoking, talk to your healthcare provider. They can offer tips and strategies for successful smoking cessation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weight loss<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/obesity-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increases a person\u2019s risk of heart disease, according to the AHA. Healthy <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/weight-loss-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help protect against CVD.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Healthy cholesterol levels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High cholesterol is a known risk factor for heart disease. Maintaining <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cholesterol-levels-by-age-chart\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy cholesterol levels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can reduce the chance of developing CVD.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/why-is-sleep-important\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adequate sleep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential to both mental and physical health, including heart health. That\u2019s why the AHA lists sleep as one of the eight essential factors for reducing the risk of CVD.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Preventing or treating diabetes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4600176\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that diabetes and CVD are closely linked. The good news is that there are many effective <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/diabetes-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes treatments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014and it might be possible to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/reversing-prediabetes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reverse prediabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with diet and lifestyle changes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Treating high blood pressure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for CVD, according to the AHA. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your healthcare provider about the appropriate combination of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ways-to-manage-high-blood-pressure-medication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lifestyle changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/blood-pressure-medications\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hypertension treatments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for you.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Kaveh tells his patients that there\u2019s a lot of value in small lifestyle alterations. \u201cOur small choices every day have a tremendous cumulative impact,&#8221; he says. &#8220;More importantly, it appears that it is never too late to reap the benefits of a heart-protective lifestyle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription-discount-card\"><b>Use the SingleCare prescription discount card<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"treating-heart-disease\"><b>Treating heart disease<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease treatments vary based on the condition and its severity. According to<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/heart-disease\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20353124\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, treatments may include a combination of lifestyle changes, medicines, a heart procedure, or heart surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifestyle changes for heart disease are typically aimed at reducing risk factors, such as high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. However, healthcare providers sometimes deem it necessary to treat these heart-related conditions with prescription drugs, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/statins\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/lipitor\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lipitor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (atorvastatin) or<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/crestor\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crestor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (rosuvastatin) to treat high cholesterol\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/beta-blockers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beta blockers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/ace-inhibitors\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACE inhibitors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to treat hypertension\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/anticoagulants\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anticoagulants<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/warfarin-sodium\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">warfarin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/eliquis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eliquis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prevent or treat blood clots\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More severe or life-threatening heart conditions may require surgical procedures, such as bypass surgery, pacemaker insertion, or stent placement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ace-inhibitors-vs-beta-blockers\/\"><b>ACE inhibitors vs. beta blockers: Which blood pressure medication is right for you?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"heart-disease-questions-and-answers\"><b>Heart disease questions and answers<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"what-percentage-of-the-population-has-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What percentage of the population has heart disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The American Heart Association (AHA) estimated that more than 48% of the U.S. population had heart disease between 2017 and 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-percent-of-deaths-are-caused-by-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What percent of deaths are caused by heart disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that heart disease accounts for 32% of deaths worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-country-has-the-highest-number-of-deaths-from-cardiovascular-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What country has the highest number of deaths from cardiovascular disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Our World in Data, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the countries with the highest CVD mortality rate in 2021 were Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Uzbekistan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-countries-have-the-lowest-number-of-deaths-from-cardiovascular-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What countries have the lowest number of deaths from cardiovascular disease?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Our World in Data, the countries with the lowest CVD mortality rate in 2021 were San Marino, South Korea, and Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"is-heart-disease-increasing-or-decreasing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is heart disease increasing or decreasing?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The incidence rate of heart disease is slowly decreasing in the United States, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/hus\/topics\/heart-disease-prevalence.htm#:~:text=The%20age%2Dadjusted%20prevalence%20of%20heart%20disease%20in%20men%20decreased,women%20reported%20having%20heart%20disease.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide, including in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-mortality-rate-of-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the mortality rate of heart disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiovascular disease causes 1 out of every 5 deaths in the United States, according to the CDC.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-percent-of-heart-attacks-are-fatal-in-the-united-states\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What percent of heart attacks are fatal in the United States?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The percentage of heart attacks that are fatal varies based on location, race, and gender.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As treatment options and accessibility expand, the general trend is that fewer heart attacks are fatal now than in previous years\u2014<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2728009?resultClick=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20.0% of U.S. adults 65 years and older in 1995 versus 12.4% in 2014<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for instance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-leading-cause-of-heart-disease\">What is the leading cause of heart disease?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease can be caused by a number of risk factors, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and more, according to the American Heart Association.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.heart.org\/news\/covid-19-infection-appeared-to-increase-risk-of-heart-attack-stroke-up-to-3-years-later\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 American Heart Association press release<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, people who have experienced COVID-19 infection also have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke up to three years after being sick.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-long-has-heart-disease-been-the-leading-cause-of-death\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long has heart disease been the leading cause of death?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease has been the United States\u2019 leading cause of death since 1921, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10488780\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">researchers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-are-the-early-signs-of-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the early signs of heart disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease does not always produce early symptoms, according to the National Library of Medicine. Symptoms of heart attacks or stroke include chest pain, shortness of breath, and sudden weakness. Each symptom is an indicator of heart trouble that warrants urgent medical attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-are-the-different-types-of-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the different types of heart disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is an umbrella term that<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">includes all conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels\u2014including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and atherosclerosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The heart is approximately the size of a single clenched fist, yet it&#8217;s one of the most important organs in the human body. Problems with the heart cause problems for the whole body, which is why heart disease is a prominent public health concern. Keep reading to get the facts on how common heart disease [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":54047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4114],"tags":[737,16413],"coauthors":[10668,20942],"class_list":["post-11198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-heart-health","tag-singlecare-stats","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Heart disease statistics 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn who&#039;s at risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death, and how to prevent heart attack and stroke.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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