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Cardiovascular disease is our number one health problem. Approximately 50% of our population will die from some form of cardiovascular disease; 80% will die with it.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), cause more loss of life than the seven other leading causes of death combined.
We know that diet, lifestyle, and family history are the risk factors, but we still do not understand exactly what causes cardiovascular disease nor do we have any cures for it.
Most Western countries face increasing rates of cardiovascular disease.
For reasons that remain unknown, an Oregonian’s risk for it is 20% higher than the US national average.
Studies show that vascular injury accumulates from childhood. Childhood obesity and other risk factors are on the rise, making future generations at even greater risk for cardiovascular disease.
Family history appears to be the greatest predictor of cardiovascular disease. People who have siblings or parents with it are at higher risk of developing it themselves, even if other risk factors, such as cholesterol levels, are normal.
We spend $1 billion on it daily.
Treating cardiovascular disease in the US costs us $42 million every hour; nearly $400 billion annually.
The ratio of women who die from cardiovascular disease versus breast cancer is 5 to 1.
The percent of annual deaths in our population from some form of cardiovascular disease is 50%.
Basic research offers our greatest hope for understanding inheritance of cardiovascular disease and discovering cures.
