Heart disease is a leading killer of men and women in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals one out of every three Americans die of heart disease every year. With so much at stake, it’s smart to know the warning signs — and ways you can reduce your risk.

Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is several conditions that affect the heart. It includes heart defects a person may have had since birth, damage to blood vessels, along with arteries and heart-rhythm problems.

Heart disease boosts a person’s risk for heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest. Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked. During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops beating. When the heart stops, blood no longer flows to the brain and other organs.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen after a heart attack. Most people who experience sudden cardiac arrest die within a few minutes without immediate emergency help to restart their heart. Most sudden cardiac deaths occur in men.

Could It Happen to Me?

The hard truth is that some risk factors for heart disease, such as family history, are unchangeable. Still, there are many risk factors that can be modified — at any age.

Nearly half of all Americans have at least one of the three main risk factors for heart disease:

• High blood pressure
• High LDL cholesterol
• Smoking

Other risk factors include:

• Unhealthy weight or obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Heavy alcohol use
• Diabetes

A poor diet and lack of exercise can cause plaque to form in arteries. Plaque buildup can begin as early as adolescence. This paves the way for a possible heart attack. Most people who die from heart disease are 65 or older, but nearly 20 percent are younger.

Death statistics are startling for both genders. In the U.S., nearly half of all people who have a heart attack die. The risk for heart attack in men increases after age 45. For women under age 50, heart attacks are twice as likely to be fatal than for men.

How Can I Lower My Risk?

The Cleveland Clinic  recommends lots of ways to help keep healthy:

• Quit smoking
• Follow a healthy diet
• Reduce blood cholesterol
• Lower high blood pressure
• Move every day
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage diabetes
• Reduce stress
• Limit alcohol

You can also check with the American Heart Association  for resources and simple steps to stay on top of your heart health.

Always talk with your doctor if you have any concerns. They will help you address any risk factors for heart disease you may have. Together, you can set goals to help manage your health and show your heart the love it deserves.

Sources: Heart Disease Facts,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024; Heart Disease,  Cleveland Clinic, 2025; Women and Heart Disease,  Texas Heart Institute; What can you do today to improve your heart health? Simple steps can make a difference,  American Heart Association, 2026