It touches each one of us at some point in our lives

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. and worldwide. Each year, more than 600,000 Americans die of heart disease representing nearly a quarter of all deaths. The number of Americans diagnosed with heart disease is currently 26.6 million, more than 11% of the population.

Heart disease, also commonly referred to as cardiovascular disease, is an umbrella term that refers to any disorder that affects the heart and blood vessels. While heart disease develops slowly in most, some are born with it. The most common type is coronary artery disease, a narrowing of the arteries that accounts for more than half of all heart disease related deaths, and can cause a heart attack. Other heart conditions may affect the valves or the heart’s ability to pump adequately.

Approximately every 34 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and approximately every 1 minute, 23 seconds, an American will die of one.

A central force in the progress against cardiovascular disease, CRF is a time-tested and proven partner for cardiovascular researchers and educators throughout the world. Since 2000, there has been a 31% decline in morbidity from cardiovascular disease because of cardiovascular interventions. This extraordinary progress has been driven by the discovery of new medicines and technologies that treat heart disease. But we need to do more. Cardiovascular disease still remains the single greatest cause of death in the U.S. and world-wide, affecting every major population group, no matter gender, race, or ethnicity.

For over 25 years, CRF has helped pioneer innovations and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease. But so much more can be done to help the millions of people worldwide who continue to suffer from the disease. At CRF, we are committed to igniting the next wave of innovation in research and education that will help doctors save and improve the quality of their patients’ lives.