Heart disease is a major problem. Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year-that's 1 out of every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. 

The term "heart disease" refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type in the United States is coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), which occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, costs the United States $312.6 billion each year.¹ This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity. These conditions also are leading causes of disability, preventing Americans from working and enjoying family activities.

The situation is alarming, but there is good news-heart disease is preventable and controllable. We can start by taking small steps every day to bring our loved ones and ourselves closer to heart health.

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The five major symptoms of a heart attack are:

If your New Year's fervor to get healthy is already losing steam, February -- National Cancer Prevention Month - is a great time to give yourself a second chance.

AICR's three Guidelines for Cancer Prevention can help you focus on what's most important.

1. Choose mostly plant foods, limit red meat and avoid processed meat.
2. Be physically active every day in any way for 30 minutes or more.
3. Aim to be a healthy weight throughout life.

Notice anything about them? Like, for example, how closely the advice for cutting cancer risk resembles advice for preventing other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes - not to mention for getting in shape?

It's true: these simple steps offer many different health benefits, and National Cancer Prevention Month is as good a time as any to start putting them into action.

Let's look at them one at a time:

Further Reading:

 Every year, the Union for International Cancer Control's (UICC) World Cancer Day aims to bring the growing cancer crisis to the attention of the public, government leaders and health policymakers worldwide.

World Cancer Day was yesterday, February 4th. AICR is helping to raise awareness of World Cancer Day in the US and throughout the world. Click here to see more about the effort.