HEART DISEASE FACTS AND STATISTICS

WORLD-WIDE

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), commonly referred to as heart disease or stroke, are the number 1 cause of death around the world
• 1 in 3 deaths globally are as a result of CVD, yet the majority of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable1
• In 2010 CVD cost US$ 863 billion – this is estimated to rise by 22% to US$ 1,044 billion by 20302
• 80% of CVD deaths occur in low – to middle – income countries.

IN THE UNITED STATES

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men.¹
• Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.²

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2015 were in men.¹
• About 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.¹
• Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing about 366,000 people in 2015.¹
• In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Each minute, more than one person in the United States dies from a heart disease-related event.²
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial/ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and whites. For Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders and American Indians or Alaska Natives, heart disease is second only to cancer.³
• Heart disease costs the United States about  $200 billion each year.¹ This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

Early Action is Important for Heart Attack

Know the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack so that you can act fast if you or someone you know might be having a heart attack. The chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly.

• In a 2005 survey, most respondents—92%—recognized chest pain as a symptom of a heart attack. Only 27% were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a heart attack.⁵
• About 47% of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside a hospital. This suggests that many people with heart disease don’t act on early warning signs.⁶

Heart attacks have several major warning signs and symptoms:

• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.