U.S. Heart Disease and Stroke Deaths Decline, But Still Rank as the Leading Killer
This week, the American Heart Association released its annual Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics for 2026. Deaths from both heart disease and stroke have decreased in recent years, but these conditions still remain the leading cause of death for Americans.
"Nearly half of U.S. adults now fall under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease, and that should be a wake-up call," says cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist Andrew Rudin, MD, of Natural Heart Doctor. "It’s what happens when sleep gets short, stress stays high, blood sugar runs off course, and inflammation becomes the norm. Those things shape heart and brain health long before anyone feels ‘sick.’"
In the United States, cardiovascular disease accounts for one death every 34 seconds—more deaths than cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined. In 2023, cardiovascular disease accounted for 915,973 deaths, which was down from 941,652 in 2022.
Still, survival remains poor. Sudden cardiac arrests contributed to 380,349 deaths in the U.S. alone in 2023.
Optimal cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health is also low among Americans. Building awareness and control of hypertension and diabetes are important opportunities for prevention and management.
Brain health is also becoming a common topic of conversation, given the increasing number of adults reporting cognitive disability. And while age-adjusted mortality rates from stroke declined 24 percent from 2004 to 2023, age-adjusted mortality from dementia increased 47 percent over the same period.
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
Prevention, particularly addressing risk factors early, remains key to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. These conditions rarely result from genetics alone or a sudden onset of bad luck. It usually reflects years of silent wear and tear on the blood vessels. That’s why early screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, along with lifestyle changes, are so important.
“Blood pressure is still one of the biggest shared risk factors for heart attacks and strokes, but people tend to shrug it off if it’s only ‘a little high,'" Rudin explains. "Over time, even modest elevations damage blood vessels and raise stroke risk. The encouraging part is that everyday changes like movement, better sleep, and reducing processed foods can move the needle more than most people expect."
Implement these daily habits and lifestyle changes to protect long-term health:
- Exercise consistently
- Prioritize sleep
- Eat a heart-friendly diet
- Manage stress
- Control blood pressure and blood sugar
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit alcohol and quit smoking
- Reduce exposure to toxins
- Stay socially connected
- Early screenings