health statisticsThe American Heart Association is a trusted name in preventing and tracking diseases such as cardiovascular disease and other related health statistics. I recently visited their website in search of 2008 health statistics for various populations, risk factors and ways to prevent heart related diseases. Here is what I found:

Population Health Statistics (numbers based of 2004 health statistics)
  • 32.9 percent of male African Americans die from cardiovascular disease. 38.1 percent of African American women die from CVD. In each gender, it was a larger killer then cancer and homicide added together.
  • 35.1 percent of white, male Americans die from CVD in comparison to 37.7 percent of white, American women. Cancer came in second for both genders.
  • 26.5 percent of Hispanic males die from CVD and 30.4 percent of women die from cardiovascular disease.
  • 32.9 percent of Asian American males die from CVD compared to 33.5 Asian females. Cancer came in second for the leading cause of death as well but at a much higher percent then the other races mentioned.
Health statistics like this show us how important it is to exercise and eat healthy.