This disease kills more people than all cancers and accidents combined

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Americans, according to the latest statistics from the American Heart Association’s annual report, 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. The report, published in the AHA’s journal Circulation, revealed that cardiovascular disease claims more lives than all types of cancer and accidental deaths combined.

In 2022, a total of 941,652 people died of heart disease-related conditions, which was a slight increase from the previous year. Although the age-adjusted death rate has decreased slightly, there are still concerning trends in risk factors for heart disease.

Dr. Bradley Serwer, a Maryland-based cardiologist, noted that while there have been improvements in the prevalence of high cholesterol and decreased smoking rates, there has been a rise in diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. This shift in risk factors is contributing to the ongoing challenge of heart disease prevention and treatment.

According to the report, more than 72% of U.S. adults have unhealthy weight, with nearly 42% meeting the criteria for obesity. Additionally, over half of U.S. adults have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, indicating a significant health concern that needs to be addressed.

The report also highlighted disparities in risk factors among different racial and ethnic groups. Black women were found to have the highest rates of obesity and high blood pressure, underscoring the importance of addressing these disparities to improve overall cardiovascular health.

Experts warn that if current trends continue, the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes will continue to rise, leading to a 300% increase in cardiovascular-related healthcare costs by 2050. This emphasizes the urgent need for interventions to reduce risk factors and prevent heart disease.

One positive finding in the report is the decrease in high cholesterol rates, attributed to improved dietary and lifestyle factors, medication availability, and clinical control. However, there is still much work to be done to combat the growing burden of heart disease.

To address this top killer, experts emphasize the importance of aggressively targeting risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. By focusing on prevention and treatment strategies, we can work towards reducing the impact of heart disease on public health.

In conclusion, heart disease remains a significant health concern in the U.S., with risk factors continuing to grow. By prioritizing interventions to address these risk factors and promote heart-healthy behaviors, we can make strides towards reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease on our population.