One person is killed every 34 seconds.
New data from the American Heart Association (AHA) highlights heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States, with risk factors like obesity and high blood pressure continuing to rise. The association’s annual 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update, published on January 27 in Circulation, underscores the alarming fact that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) claim more American lives than cancer and accidents combined. Despite a leveling off of CVD deaths after a sharp rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest statistics from 2022 show an increase in CVD deaths, reaching 941,652—a rise of over 10,000 from 2021.
Experts warn that rising obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes rates could lead to more deaths if these risk factors aren’t addressed. According to Dr. Dhruv S. Kazi, an AHA volunteer, if current trends continue, by 2050, hypertension and obesity will affect more than 180 million U.S. adults, and diabetes will reach over 80 million. These conditions will significantly increase health care costs related to CVD. The AHA stresses the role of obesity as a primary concern, with excess weight contributing to 1,300 additional deaths daily and nearly 500,000 annually in the U.S.
The statistics reveal that almost 72% of U.S. adults are overweight, with 42% classified as obese. Among racial groups, Black women have the highest obesity rate, at nearly 58%. High blood pressure affects 47% of adults, while 57% of Americans have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, with Hispanic men showing the highest prevalence. However, there are some positive trends. Tobacco use has declined to 11% of adults, and smoking rates among high school students have decreased since 2022. Additionally, better cholesterol management has led to a reduction in high cholesterol levels.
Despite these improvements, experts continue to sound the alarm on obesity, which has now surpassed smoking in terms of health risks. New medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have shown promise in treating obesity and diabetes, though they aren’t yet accessible to everyone. Dr. Kazi emphasizes that ensuring these treatments are available to high-risk populations is crucial to addressing the disparities in health outcomes. Dr. Keith Churchwell of the AHA stresses that the best way to prevent CVD is to address these risk factors early and adopt healthy lifestyle practices, including a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management.
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