Stroke, heart attack deaths decline
Deaths from heart attacks and strokes declined by about 30 percent since 1999, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in its Dec. 16 print edition.
As a result, there have been about 190,000 fewer deaths from heart attacks and strokes in 2006 compared with 1999, the American Heart Association found.
The study attributes part of the decline to more aggressive use of cholesterol and blood pressure drugs, plus more widespread rapid treatment in hospitals. Other declines were due to better diets, including less saturated and trans fats and less salt, and less smoking.
However, cardiovascular disease rates are already starting to increase among people ages 35 to 54 as a result of obesity, physical inactivity and type 2 diabetes, the Journal Sentinel reported.
Cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 killer in the U.S., accounting for 829,000 deaths, or one of every 2.9 deaths in 2006.
See the American Heart Association’s web site for early warning signs of heart attack and stroke, as well as tips on maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle.
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