About a quarter of the deaths from heart disease and stroke that occur yearly in the United States are preventable, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The deaths of more than 200,000 people ages 75 and younger from heart diseaseand stroke in 2010 could have been prevented through more effective public health measures, treatment or lifestyle changes such as improved diet and exercise, the report said. About 800,000 Americans die from cardiovascular disease each year.
The rate of preventable deaths was higher for men (83.7 preventable deaths per 100,000 people) than women (39.6 preventable deaths per 100,000 people). The highest rate was among black men (143.0 preventable deaths per 100,000 people). [6 Easy Ways to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables]
More than half of the preventable deaths (56 percent) occurred in people younger than 65, the report said.