Heart disease is a leading killer of men and women in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals one out of every three Americans die of heart disease every year. With so much at stake, it's smart to know the warning signs - and ways you can reduce your risk.
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is several conditions that affect the heart. It includes heart defects a person may have had since birth, damage to blood vessels, along with arteries and heart-rhythm problems.
Heart disease boosts a person's risk for heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest. Los ataques cardíacos se producen cuando se bloquea el flujo sanguíneo al corazón. During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops beating. When the heart stops, blood no longer flows to the brain and other organs.
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen after a heart attack. Most people who experience sudden cardiac arrest die within a few minutes without immediate emergency help to restart their heart. Most sudden cardiac deaths occur in men.
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The hard truth is that some risk factors for heart disease, such as family history, are unchangeable. Still, there are many risk factors that can be modified - at any age.
Nearly half of all Americans have at least one of the three main risk factors for heart disease:
Otros factores de riesgo incluyen:
- Unhealthy weight or obesity
- Lack of actividad física
- Muy frecuente alcohol use
- Diabetes
La mala alimentación y la falta de ejercicio pueden provocar la formación de placa en las arterias. La acumulación de placa puede comenzar ya en la adolescencia. Esto allana el camino para un posible ataque cardíaco. Most people who die from heart disease are 65 or older, but nearly 20 percent are younger.
Death statistics are startling for both genders. In the U.S., nearly half of all people who have a heart attack die. El riesgo de sufrir un ataque al corazón en los hombres aumenta después de los 45 años. For women under age 50, heart attacks are twice as likely to be fatal than for men.
How Can I Lower My Risk?
El centro móvil de atención (MAC, en inglés) de recommends lots of ways to help keep healthy:
- Dejar de fumar
- Follow a healthy diet
- Reducir el nivel de colesterol en sangre
- Reducir la presión arterial alta
- Hacer ejercicios todos los días
- Mantenga un peso saludable
- Controlar la diabetes
- Reduce stress
- Limitar el consumo de alcohol
You can also check with the for resources and simple steps to stay on top of your heart health.
Always talk with your doctor if you have any concerns. They will help you address any risk factors for heart disease you may have. Together, you can set goals to help manage your health and show your heart the love it deserves.
Fuentes: , Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, 2024; , Cleveland Clinic, 2025; , Texas Heart Institute; , American Heart Association, 2026