Heart of the Matter
BY STEVE BARRETT
WORLDWIDE, NOTHING KILLS MORE PEOPLE
THAN CARDIOVA SCUL AR DISE A SE, WHICH CAUSES
APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF ALL DE ATHS. THE
STATISTICS BELOW TELL PART OF THAT STORY.
SMOKING VS. LIVING
THE Y E A R S OF LIFE people gain when they stop smoking vary by
age group, but the benefit is substantial when compared with
those who continue smoking.
THE FINANCIAL TOLL
The economic consequences of cardio-
vascular disease (CVD) are likely to hit
certain age demographics particularly
hard. By 2035, direct and indirect costs of
CVD are projected to remain fairly stable
among Americans ages 18 to 44, increase
somewhat for 45- to 64-year-olds and
rise sharply among those 65 or older.
Sources: World Health Organization, Circulation, American Heart Association
25-34
10 YRS
10 YRS
5 YRS
35-44
9 YRS
45-54
6 YEARS
More
than
116 million
adults in
the U.S. —
roughly 46%
of the adult
population —
have
hypertension.
BLOOD
PRESSURE
BLUES
ADDITIONAL YEARS
OF LIFE FROM
QUITTING SMOKING,
BY AGE GROUP
REMARKABLY
PREVENTABLE
Education and
lifestyle modifica-
tion could stave off
as many as 4 out
of 5 heart disease
and stroke events.
1 4❱❱❱❱❱ S P E C I A l C l I N I C A l S E C T I O N : C A R D I O l O G y
