Of all the health issues that cause the most problems in the U.S., heart disease is at the top of the list. “Heart disease” refers to a number of conditions, including:

• Arrhythmias
• Congenital heart defects
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart infections
• Heart valve disease
• Hypertension

Because of the prevalence of heart disease and how deadly it can be, it’s important to learn as much as you can about it and take steps to prevent it.

7 Facts About Heart Disease You Should Know

Here are five facts about heart disease you may not know:

1. Heart attacks and coronary heart disease are 2 of the top ten most expensive hospitalization conditions. Both account for more than $10 billion/year.
2. Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the U.S.
3. It’s estimated 790,000 Americans suffer from heart attacks every year; around 114,000 of those are fatal.
4. More than 360,000 Americans die from heart disease every year.
5. One heart attack occurs almost every 40 seconds.
6. Strokes account for 133,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. They cause five percent of all American deaths.
7. The average age of a male’s first heart attack is 65.3. The average age for a female is 71.8.

What Are Risk Factors for Heart Disease?

Risk factors for heart disease that you should know about include:

• Diabetes
• Drinking too much alcohol
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity
• Smoking

Take Steps to Prevent Heart Disease in California

Heart disease affects thousands of Americans every year. Know the facts and learn the risk factors so you can take steps to avoid heart disease:

• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Exercise regularly
• Improve your diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Stop smoking

For more information about heart disease or California health tips in general, be sure to continue to visit us at The Benefits Store.