As February comes and goes, millions of Americans are taking a step back to look at their cardiovascular health.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death across the globe, claiming millions of lives and touching many more.
Unlike other top causes of death, like cancer, heart disease is typically more preventable. Below, we explore essential heart disease statistics that help us understand its scope and how we can win the fight against it.
These figures stand as a reminder of the seriousness of heart disease, but they also encourage us to take a stand.
Note: This article is meant simply for educational purposes. It should not act as a substitute for advice from a medical professional. Contact Craft Concierge for direct cardiovascular healthcare in Tampa or Tulsa to speak with a medical professional.
February is American Heart Month
Every year, February is American Heart Month, a time dedicated to encouraging people to focus on their cardiovascular health. It got its start in 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson, one of millions of people who experienced heart attacks, issued its first proclamation. From there, each U.S. president has carried on the tradition.
Heart Month is the perfect time to check in on your ticker, especially if you live with some form of cardiovascular disease. It’s also a chance to raise awareness about and talk to your friends and family about the fight against heart disease.
Recent heart disease statistics suggest that many Americans aren’t fully aware of the scope of cardiovascular health conditions.
So knowledge can be one of our best tools for combating heart disease, as many cases can be prevented entirely with the right lifestyle choices.
Key Heart Disease Statistics
Heart disease may be widespread, but we have the power to combat it – so long as we understand why and how it affects us. Some of the most impactful statistics on heart disease to keep in mind this American Heart Month include those below.
- About 1 in every 5 deaths in the U.S. is caused by heart disease.
- In the United States, one person dies every 33 seconds from some form of cardiovascular disease.
- In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of both sexes and most racial and ethnic groups.
- Around 48.6% of adults over 20 years of age have cardiovascular disease (CVD), including hypertension. Rates of CVDs are higher among men than women.
- 9.9% of adults over age 20 experience heart disease, heart failure, or stroke.
- Heart disease and stroke currently claim more lives every year than any form of cancer.
World Heart Disease Statistics
If we look beyond U.S. heart disease statistics, we see that cardiovascular health is a concern all around the world.
- Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. They cause an estimated 17.9 million deaths each year.
- Since 2010, the number of deaths caused by heart disease has increased by 18.71%.
- Worldwide, about one-third of all heart disease-related deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years old.
Coronary Heart Disease Statistics
As one of the most common forms of cardiovascular illness, coronary heart disease (CHD) is a prime concern for healthcare providers and patients alike. CHD stems from damage to major blood vessels, which prevents arteries from delivering enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
- Around 5% (1 in 20) of adults over the age of 20 have coronary heart disease).
- CHD was responsible for 375,476 deaths in 2021 alone.
Heart Attack Statistics
Untreated heart disease can, in some cases, contribute to myocardial infarction (a heart attack). Not all heart attacks are lethal, but they are serious health concerns that deserve prompt medical treatment.
- Someone has a heart attack around every 40 seconds in the U.S.
- Around 805,000 heart attacks occur each year. An estimated 605,000 of those incidents are new attacks. The remaining 200,000 are recurrent attacks.
- As many as 1 in 5 heart attacks are “silent,” meaning they cause damage without the person even being aware they had a heart attack.
Heart Attack Statistics by Age
Your risk of a heart attack changes as you get older, as does the risk of developing other health conditions. That means it becomes increasingly important to monitor your heart health through regular checkups and reliable primary care at least once a year.
- Heart attacks become more common with age, with older adults accounting for the majority of recorded cases.
Heart Attack Prevalence by Age Group3 *(% of group population that has a heart attack each year) | |
All adults aged >/= 18 | 6.3% |
18-44 years | 0.9% |
45-64 years | 5.9% |
>/= 65 years | 18.2% |
Heart Failure Statistics
Another long-term consequence of heart disease is heart failure, which can vary in its nature and symptoms. No matter what, heart failure can pose serious health risks to the person it affects.
- Around 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20 experience heart failure.
- There are around 915,000 new cases of heart failure every year in the U.S.
- The estimated risk of developing heart failure at age 40 or older is around 1 in 5.5
Heart Transplant Statistics
Every year, thousands of heart transplants help save lives. As rates of heart disease rise, so too does the demand for viable transplants – and the number of people who agree to participate.
- 3,901 hearts were recovered for transplant in 2021.
- Heart transplant rates have increased by about 37.7% since 2017.
Other Key Heart Health Statistics
While looking at the entire U.S. helps us understand how heart health can impact us all, it’s also important to focus on areas that have particularly high levels of heart disease.
From 2018 to 2020, the amount of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease (per 100,000 people) was highest in Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Heart Disease Statistics
In Oklahoma, heart disease is a leading health concern. Factors like higher-than-average obesity levels and spaced-out, rural communities – which often limit access to healthcare – can make it more likely that a person will experience heart disease or have a hard time treating it.
- Oklahoma has the highest death rate for heart disease in the country. Around 12,158 deaths, or 264.2 out of every 100,000 people, were caused by heart disease in 2021.
- The state also has one of the highest rates of obesity (in adults) in the nation. As of 2022, around 40-45% of Oklahomans have obesity.
Florida Heart Disease Statistics
Florida has a lower death rate than other states, but its large population means that heart disease still impacts tens of thousands of people.
About 50,100 deaths in Florida (or 151.3 deaths per 100,000 total population) were caused by heart disease in 2021 alone.
How to Welcome American Heart Month 2024
Use this February as a time to reflect on your cardiovascular health, make positive changes, and spread the word. Here are some things you can do to embrace Heart Health Month 2024:
- Learn more about cardiovascular disease. Surprise – you’ve already ticked one of the most important boxes! Educating yourself on heart disease is one of the best ways to lower your risk and support others in your life.
- Participate in Go Red for Women. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative shines the spotlight on women with heart disease. It helps combat the challenges women may face when identifying, receiving a diagnosis for, and treating heart disease. It also acknowledges unique factors, like pregnancy and menopause, that may put women at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The first Friday of the month is National Wear Red Day, which encourages people across the country to wear red and raise awareness for the cause. Learn more about the Go Red for Women Initiative here.
- Schedule a heart health checkup. Heart disease is often preventable, but it’s important to be able to identify its warning signs before they progress. Regular checkups with your primary care provider – or a specialist, if you see one – can help you stay ahead of emerging health concerns, lowering your risk of developing severe or life-threatening conditions. If you haven’t scheduled a checkup for this year, now’s the time to act!
- Implement heart-friendly lifestyle changes. Take a look at your lifestyle to identify areas where you may need to make some changes. What can you do to give your heart some extra support this year? Creating a heart-healthy diet, bumping your exercise up, and taking good care of your body are a few simple things you can do to get started.
- Share what you know. Don’t keep your newfound knowledge hidden. Spread the word! Chat with friends, family, and others in your life about Heart Health Month. Social media makes it easy to find others who are actively fighting heart disease and join a community of like-minded peers.
Florida and Oklahoma Heart Health Care at Craft Concierge
If there’s one thing that this collection of heart disease statistics tells us, it’s that taking the time to consider your cardiovascular health is well worth it.
Whether you live with heart disease, know someone who does, or are hoping to avoid it down the line, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction by brushing up on key facts.
Now, all that’s left to do is put that knowledge and insight into action.
You deserve to work with a healthcare provider who understands your needs and offers individualized support. However, relying on insurance to cover the services that help you stay on top of your health can be tricky.
You might be limited to a set number of doctor’s visits, for instance, or only be eligible for certain screenings or diagnostic tests under certain circumstances.
Having to get a third party’s approval for how you manage your health can be frustrating, to say the least. That’s why Craft Concierge makes proactive and long-term heart health accessible and customizable.
Our membership-based healthcare services are based on a direct care model, which means the amount you pay for services goes directly to providers, not an insurance middle-man.
It also means that you, as a patient, get much more personalized, high-quality care.
A Primary Membership allows you to pursue essential medical services that help you maintain good heart health. For a monthly fee starting at $150, you gain access to unlimited appointments and advanced medical tools on demand.
No more waiting to hit your deductible or waiting for the year to change – you can seek the care you deserve on your schedule.
Our Cardiovascular Program, which is part of our Comprehensive Membership, puts your heart health first, connecting you with insights that help prevent heart disease and treat it effectively.
Elevate your health with access to support options like:
- Body composition analysis to help you measure your risk and unique health needs
- Personalized cardiovascular risk reports
- EKGs (electrocardiograms)
- Peripheral artery scans and carotid artery scans
- CT heart scans (for those 30+ years old) and angiograms
As always, you’ll be able to enjoy the general benefits of our direct care system, including:
- Unlimited physician appointments and acute visits
- 24/7 access to our virtual care team
- Annual core labs
- Advanced diagnostic imaging and X-rays
- Medication available on-site
- Chronic disease management
- Specialty care coordination
- And more!
You shouldn’t have to wait for a health problem to exist to be able to take control of it. You also shouldn’t be limited to services that don’t fit your needs.
Work one-on-one with providers you know and trust by choosing Craft Concierge for heart health care in Tulsa and Tampa.
Contact our team today to learn more about our programs and how they can help you prioritize your cardiovascular health.
