With heart disease as the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the U.S., cardiovascular health is more important than ever for both men and women. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and secondhand smoke are risk factors associated with heart disease.
The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a coronary attack for the first time, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one. 1
Living a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and adequate exercise, is key to cardiovascular fitness. In the Cardiovascular Health project, Ohio KePRO is working with health professionals to improve care by providing education and resources to promote healthy living and a healthy heart.
1. Roger V, Go A, Lloyd-Jones D, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics – 2011 update: A report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation. 2011; 123: e1-e192.
