Facts and Statistics

Heart Disease is the Number One Cause of Death
About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. 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 new coronary attack, 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.
The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future.
Race of ethnic group                     % of deaths
African-Americans                                      25.8
American Indians or Alaska Natives             19.8
Asians or Pacific Islanders                           24.6
Hispanics                                                   22.7
Whites                                                       27.5