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.About 610,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.[1]
Heart Disease 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.
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease, killing over 370,000 people annually.
- 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 Deaths Vary by Race and Ethnicity
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and whites. For American Indians or Alaska Natives and Asians or Pacific Islanders, heart disease is second only to cancer. [2]
| Race of Ethnic Group | % of Deaths |
|---|---|
| American Indians or Alaska Natives | 18.4 |
| Asians or Pacific Islanders | 22.2 |
| Non-Hispanic Blacks | 23.8 |
| Non-Hispanic Whites | 23.8 |
| All | 23.5 |
Heart Disease Deaths Vary by Geography
During 2008-2010, death rates due to heart disease were highest in the South and lowest in the West. Below is a map showing the prevalence of heart disease across the United States. [2]
Sources:
1. http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_disease.htm
2. http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
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