CDC: Most heart-related deaths are avoidable

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals a quarter of cardiovascular-related deaths each year are preventable. According to the report, most deaths are the result of preventable risk factors, such as unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, obesity and high blood pressure or cholesterol. Heart disease is the United States' leading cause of death, causing as many as 800,000 deaths each year. Modification of these same factors also could prevent approximately half of all stroke deaths, according to the report. Researchers further found about six in 10 preventable cardiovascular deaths were people younger than 65, and African-Americans were about twice as likely as white Americans to die from preventable strokes or heart disease. Report

Editor's Note: This post has been updated to correctly identify the number of preventable cardiovascular-related deaths.