International Nurses Association

Many people fear cancer. People now avoid too much sun, gave up smoking, and made numerous lifestyle changes to try to protect themselves from cancer.   Yet, the fact is heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.   Heart disease kills 800,000 people each year. Heart Disease Facts Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.   Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.   Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial/ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics and Whites. For Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders and American Indians or Alaska Natives, heart disease is second only to cancer. C...