Off The Record

Doctors Are Giving New Warnings About A Quiet Disease That Causes More Deaths Than Cancer And Dementia Combined

Published on January 31, 2025

You might think of dementia or cancer when you consider the leading causes of death in America.

However, new cautions from specialists concerning an illness that kills more people than both of those conditions combined are being issued.

Heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease—collectively known as cardiovascular disease—accounted for almost 1 million deaths in 2022, or one death every 30 seconds.

In contrast, dementia claims the lives of 288,000 Americans annually, while cancer claims about 600,000.

According to American Heart Association researchers, a rise in risk factors and a lack of awareness in comparison to other illnesses like cancer could be the cause.

Furthermore, heart disease can be a silent killer that goes undetected for decades before any symptoms manifest.

The scientists also cautioned that although heart disease deaths may be beginning to level off for the first time since the epidemic, heart disease risk factors are increasing.

For instance, over three-quarters of US people are overweight or obese, and nearly half have excessive blood pressure.

By 2050, two-thirds of US individuals would be obese and have high blood pressure, which will raise their risk of heart disease even more, the experts said if current trends continue.

Other risk factors, such as smoking, vaping, and high cholesterol, have decreased, though.

Cardiovascular disease, another name for heart disease, is a collection of disorders that harm the heart and its blood arteries.

These include heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, coronary artery disease (narrow or clogged arteries), and arrhythmias (unusual rhythms).

While heart disease mortality are ‘leveling down’ following the epidemic, the experts cautioned that ‘a lot more work’ is still required to reduce risk.

The results coincide with an increase in young Americans’ heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.

Some have been linked to lifestyle problems including obesity and viruses like Covid, while others have been attributed to unidentified heart problems that were present from birth.

Dr Keith Churchwell, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, said: “Those are alarming statistics to me – and they should be alarming for all of us, because it’s likely many among those whom we lose will be our friends and our loved ones.”

“Too many people are dying from heart disease and from stroke which remains the 5th leading cause of death. Together, they kill more people than all cancers and accidental deaths – the #2 and #3 causes of death – combined.”

According to the most recent data available, cardiovascular disease was the cause of 941,652 deaths in 2022, according to a paper published in the journal Circulation.

Compared to 931,578 in 2021, this represents a minor increase.

But from 2021 to 2022, the death rate dropped little from 233 per 100,000 to 224 per 100,000.

Additionally, the scientists discovered that eating “excess” calories—more than you burn—added up to 1,300 extra fatalities every day, or 500,000 annually.

Additionally, a number of heart disease and stroke risk factors are increasing.

According to the survey, 57 percent of US adults have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and 47 percent have high blood pressure.

Rates of diabetes and prediabetes rose from about 50%, although rates of high blood pressure remained unchanged from 2021.

Furthermore, 72% of people have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 25, which is considered to be a “unhealthy” weight. This is about the same as the previous year.

Additionally, four out of ten children in the United States are deemed to be overweight. This represents an increase from roughly 36% in 2021.

“Although we have made a lot of progress against cardiovascular disease in the past few decades, there is a lot more work that remains to be done,” stated Dr. Dhruv S. Kazi, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

According to him, 180 million persons in the US will receive a diagnosis of obesity and high blood pressure if current trends continue. Almost two-thirds of adults fall within this category.

By 2050, he predicts that almost one in three Americans will have type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Kazi added, “And it is important to acknowledge that, although cardiovascular disease affects us all, it doesn’t affect us all equally.”

The researchers discovered that Asian women had the lowest obesity rate at 14.5%, while Black women had the highest at 58%.

At 58%, Black women likewise had the highest prevalence of high blood pressure. Hispanic women had the lowest percentage, at 35 percent.

Furthermore, with a rate of 14.5%, Hispanic men were the most probable demographic to have diabetes. At 8%, the prevalence was lowest among white women.

The scientists did discover, though, that several heart disease risk factors are on the decline.

For instance, according to the most recent data available, the smoking prevalence among men has decreased from 51% in 1965 to 16% in 2018. Additionally, over the same period, rates for women have dropped from 34% to 12%.

Additionally, compared to 34% in 2022, only 28% of high school students in 2023 reported using tobacco products at least once.

There was also a decline in vaping, which some preliminary studies have indicated may impair heart function. Compared to 14% in 2022, 10% of high school students reported smoking e-cigarettes in 2023.

Dr Churchwell said: “Heart disease was once considered a death sentence, but thanks to the many advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment, people are able to live longer, healthier lives even after a cardiovascular event.”

“Certainly, any medical or clinical therapy that can treat the risk factors that contribute to CVD are essential. More importantly, I would say that we need to stop these risk factors in their tracks, keep people healthy throughout their lifespan.”

“That will only be possible with a strong emphasis on early prevention and equitable health access for all.”