Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number-one killer of Americans. In fact, twice as many Americans succumb to CVD than cancer. The term cardiovascular disease includes:

• High blood pressure

• Coronary artery disease (angina pectoris and myocardial infarction)

• Stroke

• Congestive heart failure

• Congenital cardiovascular disorders

Despite the decline in mortality rates over the years due to risk reduction, public awareness, smoking cessation, proper diet, and exercise, CVD remains the leading cause of mortality. In fact, CVD accounts for greater than 45% of the total mortality in the United States when analyzed among the six leading causes of death.

Although the annual number of CVD deaths has declined steadily in men since 1979, deaths among women are on the rise. More women than men died of CVD in each year since 1984. The mortality gap between men and women is widening even as the misperception persists that CVD is of more concern for men than for women.

Within the broad category of CVD, coronary heart disease (angina and myocardial infarction) is the most common cause of death in this country. The American Heart Association estimates that more than one million Americans will suffer a coronary event this year-a rate of one every 30 seconds.