In the United States, heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. Many conditions, such as coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, heart attack, heart rhythm disorders and atherosclerosis, result in millions of Americans being hospitalized every year.
History
The CDC statistics for 2006 show that heart disease caused the deaths of 631,636 people in the United States.
Facts by State
Statistics from the American Heart Association indicate that in 2005, the state with the highest number of deaths from cardiovascular disease was Mississippi. The state with the lowest was Minnesota.
Significance
Heart disease is the cause of death for 27.5 percent of Caucasians. Among African Americans, heart disease is responsible for 25.8 percent of deaths. Asians or Pacific Islanders are the third most affected group, at 24.6 percent.
Considerations
The American Heart Association reports that 72,151,000 visits to doctors, emergency rooms and outpatient services were made in 2006 for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Cost
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the cost of heart disease in 2010 at $316.4 billion.
