Heart disease is a broad term that can refer to any
condition that affects the heart; however, it usually refers to
coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is a chronic disease in which
the coronary arteries gradually harden and narrow (a process known
as atherosclerosis).
While many people with heart disease have symptoms such as
chest pain and fatigue, as many as 50 percent have no symptoms
until a heart attack occurs.
CAD is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the
United States and the leading cause of heart attacks.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of American women,
causing almost 500,000 deaths every year.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), CAD is the
leading killer of American men and women, responsible for more than
one of every five deaths in 2001.
About 84 percent of people who die as a result of CAD are 65 or
older.
Many statistics show CAD as the leading cause of premature and
permanent disability among American workers.
Treatments for CAD vary according to
the severity of the disease, the location of any blockages in the
blood vessels and overall health. Options include lifestyle
changes, medication and surgery.
Coronary artery disease tends to develop gradually, and
effective strategies exist to help prevent or control it. Changes
in lifestyle and health habits can reduce the speed at which
heart-related problems develop.
Some of the specific strategies used to prevent or control
heart disease include dieting, improving cholesterol, controlling
homocysteine levels, exercising regularly, controlling high blood
pressure and quitting smoking.
Scientists have identified more than 250 genes that may play a
role in the development of CAD.
Beyond age 45, a greater percentage of women than men have high
cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is
one of the major causes of heart disease.
According to the AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics
‑- 2005 Update, more than 56 million American
women have borderline to high cholesterol levels.
Approximately 6.8 million Americans, about 4.2 million of whom
are women, get diagnosed with angina every year, according to the
AHA.
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