According to the American Heart Association; every 33 seconds an American dies from cardiovascular disease. Every 20 seconds an American suffers a heart attack, and every 60 seconds, somebody dies from one.
IN THE UNITED STATES AND MOST OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES, ATHEROSCLEROSIS IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF ILLNESS AND DEATH
In the United States alone, it caused almost 1 million deaths in 1996--twice as many as cancer caused and 10 times as many as accidents caused.
In Canada, heart disease and stroke remain the #1 killers of both men and women. Cardiovascular disease accounts for the death of more Canadians than any other disease.
Cardiac disease and stroke are also major causes of illness and disability in Canada, exacting high personal, community and health-care costs.
DESPITE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL ADVANCES, HEART ATTACKS DUE TO CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND STROKES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE DEATHS THAN ALL OTHER CAUSES COMBINED
> Coronary artery disease - atherosclerosis that affects the arteries supplying blood to the
heart
> Stroke - due to atherosclerosis that affects the arteries to the brain
In regard to medical procedures in the treatment of heart related problems, one doctor’s opinion is that technology has been confused with science. Just because it is possible to do a coronary bypass or angioplasty does not necessarily mean that it always makes sense to undertake it. Bypass surgery fails to reduce the mortality rate for 75 percent of heart patients who undergo the procedure.
In 1994 average cost of bypass surgery was US$ 44,000 each while angioplasties US$ 21,000. Total cost of cardiovascular disease in USA for 1994, both direct (hospitalization, procedures, and drugs) and indirect (lost working time), were an estimated US$ 259 billion.
THE MAJORITY OF HEART ATTACKS OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT VITAL TO PRACTICE GOOD HEART HEALTH