February has arrived, marking American Heart Month. This is the time of year when we focus on the leading cause of death in the United States: heart disease. According to the most recent data compiled by the American Heart Association, heart disease, and stroke cause more deaths in the United States than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. 

To honor the significance of this month and raise awareness about the risks of heart disease, we will now share some must-know statistics about heart disease in the United States, along with helpful tips and suggestions for improving cardiovascular health.

What is Heart Disease?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) uses heart disease as a blanket term for any condition that affects the function and structure of your heart.

 Cardiovascular disease falls under this category and refers to any disease impacting your heart or blood vessels.

What Medical Emergencies Stem from Heart Disease?

The NHBLI explains the main types of medical emergencies that are caused by heart disease, including:

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction): Occurs when the flow of blood bringing oxygen to your heart is blocked, keeping your heart from getting the oxygen it needs to function; after a certain amount of time without oxygen has passed, the heart tissue will die.
  

• Cardiac arrest: This happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping, keeping blood from flowing to your vital organs like the brain, lungs, etc.
  

• Stroke (transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident): Blood flow to the brain gets blocked, preventing it from getting essential oxygen and nutrients, which causes cells to die in a matter of minutes.

How Many People in the US Does Heart Disease Affect?

More than half of surveyed adults in the United States don’t know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country, despite it being the number one killer for over 100 years. 

According to the latest data from the CDC, heart disease kills over 700,000 Americans each year, with over 1,900 deaths per day. This means that one out of every five deaths in the United States stems from heart disease.  

This risk isn’t exclusive just to older adults, either. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that one-third of the deaths that occur from cardiovascular diseases occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age. 

Is Heart Disease Preventable?

The good news is that the American Heart Association (AHA) states that most cases of heart disease are preventable for people with a healthy lifestyle. In practice, this looks like:

• Not smoking

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Controlling blood sugar and cholesterol

• Treating high blood pressure

• Getting >150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week

• Scheduling regular checkups with your doctor 

By spreading awareness about the prevalence of heart disease and the steps we can take to improve cardiovascular health, American Heart Month hopes to continue to educate adults in the U.S. so we can live longer and healthier lives.