Men and Cardiovascular Disease

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death among men? The odds are that one out of four men will die due to heart disease.

Why it Matters

Heart disease is a serious, life-threatening illness. However, since many of the signs of heart disease are not noticeable, men often do not know they are at risk or that they currently have heart disease — until it’s too late. Half of all men who die suddenly of cardiovascular disease had no previous symptoms.

You can beat the odds. Many of the factors that increase your risk for heart disease are things YOU can control. This means you can reduce your risk, improve your health, enhance the quality of your life and possibly even live longer.

How many of these cardiovascular risk factors do you have?

• I am overweight or obese
• I don't get enough physicial activity
• I have high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes
• I smoke cigarettes or use tobacco products
• I have a family history of heart disease
• I am 45 or older
• I have been diagnosed with heart disease

Fast Stats

• More than one-third of men have some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Approximately half of all Americans have at least one of the primary risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high levels of “bad” cholesterol and smoking.
• More than 73 percent of men 20 and older are overweight or obese.
• Roughly 8.8 million men alive today have coronary heart disease (plaque buildup in the arteries), and of these, five million have a history of heart attack.
• Men are less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year and are more likely to neglect their cholesterol tests.

Talk to Your Doctor Today.

Your doctor can help you prevent heart disease.

Ask your doctor:

1. What are MY risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and why?
2. What screenings or tests are right for ME?
3. What actions can I take to decrease MY risk for cardiovascular disease?
4. What are MY cardiovascular disease health goals?