Heart Disease

Vast amounts of individuals die each day from HIV and AIDS, various types of cancer, diabetes, suicide, homicide, traffic accidents, and drug overdoses. The massive numbers of individuals perishing from these conditions, diseases, and epidemics, are alarming, distressing and startling. HIV and AIDS were once thought and are still considered by many to be the number one killer in the United States. In the state of North Carolina alone, where I reside, it is estimated that 11,112 people are infected with HIV while another 7,128 people are infected with full blown AIDS (http://www.avert.org/usastats.htm). These figures only represent the cases that have been reported. North Carolina represents only 2% of the United States, so one can imagine how astronomical the numbers are for the country as a whole! Frightening isn't it? Suppose I make the claim that HIV and AIDS are not the leading causes of death in the United States. You now probably find yourself wondering just what the number one assassin in the United States is. America heads the world in deaths rates from cardiovascular disease or what is often referred to as heart disease. It is the leading executioner of Americans, now causing half of all U.S. deaths (Goldberg, 14).
Cardiovascular disease or what has been termed (CVD) was once thought of as something only the in up age individuals should be concerned with. Many young adults, those individuals in their thirties and forties, believe they are not affected by this disease. The actuality is that not only is CVD the nation's leading killer for both men and women, it is also the leading killer among all racial and ethnic groups (http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/cdisease/cardiovascular/cardiovascular.html). With some conditions and diseases certain groups of people are more susceptible to them. For example, in the U.S. sickle cell anemia is most commonly observed in African Americans and Hispanics... [continues]

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