The deadliest disease
in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD, also called ischemic heart
disease, occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become
narrowed. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 7.4 million
people died of ischemic heart disease in 2012. That was about 13.2 percent of
all deaths.
In the United States,
about 600,000 people die of heart disease every year, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That makes it the deadliest disease
in the U.S., as well as the world. In the U.S. the most common type of heart
disease is CAD, which takes about 380,000 lives each year.
Among the risk factors
are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Regular exercise, good
nutrition, and weight control can help lower your risk of developing CAD.
Where you live
matters. Although it’s still the leading cause of death, mortality rates have
declined in many European countries and in the United States. This may be due
to better prevention and access to quality healthcare. However, in many
developing nations, mortality rates due to CAD are on the rise.
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