Americans at Risk

Below is the percentage of U.S. adults with heart disease risk factors in 2005-2008.

Risk Factor	%
Inactivity	53
Obesity	34
High Blood Pressure	32
Cigarette Smoking	21
High Cholesterol	15
Diabetes	11

Eating and excercise has drastic effect on these conditions and can really ulter symptoms of and causes of heart disease.

In 2003, approximately 37% of adults reported having two or more of the risk factors listed above.

So here are some facts:

• In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused almost 25% of deaths. This means one in every four people in the U.S. 
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2008 were in men.
• Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2008, 405,309 people died from coronary heart disease.
• Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first coronary attack. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more coronary attacks have another attack.
• In 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the United States $108.9 billion.³ This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

Processed foods also contain excessive amounts of salt and sugar. Too much salt can cause heart disease, hypertension and stroke. And a diet full of sugar can contribute to weight gain, cardiovascular disease, weakened vision, type 2 diabetes and dental caries. Most of the calories in your diet should come from natural, whole foods like lean meats, poultry, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and eggs. When you eat a variety of food from these sources, you get all the nutrients needed for good health. If you learn to manage portion sizes by eating healthy foods, weight loss will happen naturally.