In national polls, Americans consistently rank the AHA as the nation's most credible source for health information and undisputed leader in fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke. Today, the AHA is one of America's best examples of what full-scale volunteer efforts can accomplish. As we look toward a new century and an ambitious agenda, the volunteer spirit that has enabled the AHA to flourish in the 20 th century is even more critical to our long-term success. Cardiovascular disease and stroke kill more Americans each year than the next seven leading causes of death combined. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death and stroke is the third leading cause of death.
Stroke is the leading cause of permanent disability.
About 56 percent of all heart attack survivors are younger than 65. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, resulting in more than five times as many deaths as breast cancer, a disease many women mistakenly list as the No. 1 cause of death in poll after poll. Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of death in infants. Most heart attack patients survive, but about two-thirds never fully recover. About 20 percent of heart attack survivors are disabled within six years of their first heart incident.