Heart disease remains the biggest killer in the United States, according to a new The American Heart Association (AHA) report, published on Monday in the journal Circulation.
The report found that 941,652 Americans died from cardiovascular disease in 2022, a jump of around 10,000 compared to around 931,500 that reportedly died from cardiovascular disease in 2021.
According to the data reported in the 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S. and Global Data From the American Heart Association, the risk factors that cause heart disease, such as hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, continue to rise.
The findings of the report also found that a person in the US dies of cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, or nearly 2,500 people every day.
The other major killers in USA
Cancer and accidental deaths occupy the second and third leading causes of death, respectively, as per the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Heart disease risk factors on rise
Heart disease risk factors are witnessing a worrying rise. Around 47% of American adults have high blood pressure and 57%, are living with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Also, 72% of adults in the USA have an unhealthy weight. Nearly 42% of them have obesity, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as per the AHA report.
“Too many people are dying from heart disease and from stroke which remains the 5th leading cause of death. Together, they kill more people than all cancers and accidental deaths – the #2 and #3 causes of death – combined,” said Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, the volunteer president of the American Heart Association
Cardiovascular-related deaths levelling out
The report indicates the overall number of cardiovascular-related deaths appears to be leveling out after a major increase during the Covid pandemic. In fact, the age-adjusted death rates dropped for all but one of the ten leading causes of death. The kidney disease age-adjusted death rates increased 1.5%.
“Kidney disease has actually been on the rise over the past decade. In our report, we noted a significant increase in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease among Medicare beneficiaries from 9.2% in 2011 to 14.2% in 2021. Additionally, the global prevalence of kidney disease has increased more than 27% in relative terms since 2010,” said American Heart Association volunteer and chair of the Association’s statistical update writing committee Seth S. Martin, M.D., M.H.S., FAHA, a professor of medicine and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
Improvement in high cholesterol
On a positive note, high cholesterol rates have reduced, which could be due to increased awareness around dietary and lifestyle factors that impact cholesterol levels.
“Another positive trend over the years has been a reduction in the rates of high cholesterol. That’s likely thanks, in part, to increased awareness about the dietary and lifestyle factors that impact cholesterol levels, along with the availability of medications and better clinical control,” Churchwell said.
How to lower risk of heart diseases
A set of simple lifestyle changes can help reduce risk of heart diseases which includes a wholesome diet with all the nutrients, daily exercises, saying no to tobacco smoking, managing stress, and establishing good sleep hygiene.
Heart-healthy diet
A nourishing meal with all important nutrients – be it protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – can shield your heart from the ill effects of modern lifestyle. Adding a lot of fibre, and reducing intake of sodium can help. Leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, carrot, and fruits like apple, orange, berries must be incorporated into the diet. It is important to choose whole grains like brown rice, whole meal pasta, and grainy bread.
Regular exercise
Daily exercises like walking, climbing stairs and stretching can get your heart rate up and strengthens your heart muscles. If you care for your heart, taking this time a little movement can go a long way.
Quitting smoking
Smoking spells bad news for your heart as it can damage heart and blood vessels, reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood, and increase stiffness of the blood vessels.
Managing stress
Stress can have adverse effects on different aspects of your health. It can shoot up your blood pressure and cause inflammatory responses which lead to a plaque build-up in arteries. Stress could also promote unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating junk food.
Practices like Yoga, meditation, and pursuing your favourite activities can reduce stress significantly.