Heart Disease Information

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Each year nearly 950,000 Americans die from heart disease. Heart disease is known as an equal opportunity killer. About half of the people who die every year of heart disease are women. Although women generally develop heart disease later in life than men, by age fifty-five heart disease is the number one killer of women. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease which represents the gradual build-up of primarily fat and cholesterol on the inside walls of the coronary arteries. These coronary arteriessupply the heart muscle itself with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. The build-up in the vessels slows (or even stops) the amount of blood that flows to the heart muscle. When the heart no longer receives enough blood to function properly, part of the heart can die causing a heart attack or even death.

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