Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease," it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States. Reduce your chance of developing coronary heart disease by taking steps to prevent and control risk factors. Knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2008, an estimated 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack, and about 430,000 will have a recurrent attack. About every 26 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.

The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future.

For more information on heart disease and stroke, visit CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.