Reducing the risk of CVD

CVD is the number one cause of death in the United States.

• About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.1
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men.1
• Coronary heart disease (Links to an external site.) (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease, killing over 370,000 people annually.1
• Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack (Links to an external site.). Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.2

Being healthy heart conscious is the key to a prolonged life. As a younger adult our focus is not on healthy behavior to reduce the risk CVD, rather than indulgent behavior either through diet, substance abuse, inactivity, or a combination of them all. Studies have shown that these behaviors can manifest themselves at an early age for onset of CVD. Discuss 3 ways that you can lower your risk of CVD. Do not just list 3 behaviors, but rather discuss how and why these behaviors can lower your risk of CVD.