- Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States, responsible for about 960,000 deaths annually. .
-Cardiovascular disease claims more lives than the next seven leading causes of death combined, including cancer, accidents, influenza and pneumonia, and diabetes.
-One out of every five Americans has some form of cardiovascular disease.
- The cost of cardiovascular disease in 2002 is estimated to be $329.2 billion in direct costs, such as hospital visits and indirect costs, such as lost productivity.
Heart disease describes a variety of disorders and conditions that can affect the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease (coronary heart disease), also called coronary artery disease. (Vital signs health center.) The word coronary means crown, and it is the name given to the arteries that circle the heart like a crown. The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients. .
Coronary heart disease develops when one or more coronary arteries that supply the heart become narrower then they used to be. This happens because of a buildup of cholesterol and other substances in the wall of the blood vessel, affecting the blood flow to the heart muscle. Deposits of cholesterol and other fat like substances can build up in the inner lining of these blood vessels and become coated with scar tissue, forming a bump in the blood vessel wall known as plaque. (Vital Signs Health Care).
Plaque build up narrows and hardens the blood vessel; a process called arteriosclerosis, of the arteries. (Vital Signs Health Care). Eventually these plaque deposits can build up to significantly reduce or block blood flow to the heart. Many people experience chest pain or discomfort from inadequate blood flow to the heart, especially during exercise when the heart needs more oxygen. Without an adequate blood supply, heart muscle tissue can be damaged.
