Most people never give much thought to their heart and arteries until something goes wrong. This is a testament to how seamlessly the heart and arteries function as part of your cardiovascular system. Every day the heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through blood vessels to carry critical oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body and remove waste products. This all takes place while you are working, sleeping, shopping, exercising -- during everything that you do.
When something does go wrong, it can be frightening. Cardiovascular disease is serious, and it can have serious consequences for people at all stages of life.
That's why it is important to understand that everyone is at risk.
- Many people think heart disease is an illness of the elderly. Not true: Each year in the United States, approximately 36,000 children are born with heart defects.
- You may think of cardiovascular disease as a men's disease. Not true: Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both women and men in the United States and in many other parts of the world.
In short, heart health is a priority for everyone. You can learn more about heart health on this website. Let's get started!