Skip to Main Content

Looks like you’re visiting UCSF Health on Internet Explorer. For the best experience, try Chrome or Firefox.

UCSF Health
Popular Searches
University of California San Francisco
  • Conditions & Treatments
    Conditions & Treatments
    EPILEPSY BREAKTHROUGH

    Stopping Seizures Before They Start

    • Find Conditions

    • Find Treatments

    • Clinical Trials

    • Patient Education

    • Medical Tests

  • Doctors
    Doctors
    MEET OUR DOCTORS
    Dr. Jasleen Kukreja and the Life-Saving Gift of Breath
    • Find a Doctor

    • Doctor Stories

    • Get a Second Opinion

  • Clinics & Locations
    Clinics & Locations
    BAKAR PRECISION CANCER MEDICINE BUILDING
    Care, Convenience and Support at New Cancer Facility
    • Find a Clinic

    • Locations & Directions

    • Urgent Care

    • Emergency Care

    • Partners & Affiliates

    • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals

  • Patients & Visitors
    Patients & Visitors
    KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
    10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit
    • Your Hospital Stay

    • For Visitors

    • International Services

    • For Caregivers

    • Support, Services & Groups

    • Billing & Insurance

    • Help Paying Your Bill

    • Pricing Transparency

    • 340B Drug Pricing Program

    • Medical Records

    • Patient Relations

  • Why Choose Us?
    Why Choose Us?
    U.S. News Best Hospital Rankings
    UCSF Health Ranked Among Nation's Top 10 Hospitals
    • Our Mission

    • Quality of Patient Care

    • Patient Stories

    • Embracing Diversity

    • Our Leadership

  • Refer a Patient
  • MyChart
  • Request Appointment
  • Get a Second Opinion
  • Call us: (888) 689-8273
University of California San Francisco
Patient Education

Heart and Vascular Disease: The Facts

Cardiovascular disease – disorders of the heart or blood vessels – is the number one cause of death and disability among men and women in the United States. The statistics are staggering:

  • 950,000 people die from cardiovascular disease each year. That is twice the number of cancer deaths, 25 times the number of AIDS-related deaths and 10 times the number of accidental deaths.
  • Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than half of all deaths in women.
  • Stroke strikes 600,000 people each year.
  • Around 10 percent of stroke sufferers recover fully, 30 percent die and 60 percent become disabled.
  • The annual cost of caring for disabled stroke survivors is $8 million.

Despite the alarming numbers, cardiovascular-related deaths are declining. Since the 1940s, virtually all increases in life expectancy have been due to the reduction of cardiovascular-related deaths. This is due in large part to new technology and treatments.

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.

Conditions we treat

  • Coronary artery disease

  • Heart failure

  • Stroke

Recommended reading

Heart and Vascular Disease: The Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease disorders of the heart or blood vessels is the number one cause of death and disability among adults in the U.S. Learn more.

Heart and Vascular Disease: Prevention Tips

The UCSF Nutrition Counseling Clinic answers questions about nutrition and heart health including, some of the biggest myths about heart-healthy foods.

Diet and Congestive Heart Failure

Discover how a low-sodium diet can help you manage congestive heart failure (CHF) and learn how to adjust your eating habits for better overall heart health.

Heart Healthy Tips

Physical activity, along with following a healthy diet and not smoking, is one of the most important things you can do to keep your heart and lungs healthy.

Holiday Tips for Heart Health

The UCSF Center for Prevention of Heart & Vascular Disease generated these tips after seeing cardiology patients struggle to maintain health during the holidays

How the Heart Works

The heart is muscular and hollow, constantly pumping blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body and is comprised of four compartments. Learn more.

Women and Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, and claims the lives of 1 in 3 women, or 500,000 women a year. Learn more here.

Related clinics

Asian Heart and Vascular Center

1 Daniel Burnham Ct., Suite 260
San Francisco, CA 94109

(415) 353-2873

Cardiovascular Care and Prevention Center – Golden Gate Practice

1 Daniel Burnham Ct., Suite 260
San Francisco, CA 94109

(415) 502-5099
M-F, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cardiovascular Care and Prevention Center at Mission Bay

535 Mission Bay Blvd. South
San Francisco, CA 94158

(415) 353-2873
M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Center for Prevention of Heart and Vascular Disease

535 Mission Bay Blvd. South
San Francisco, CA 94158

(415) 353-2873
M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Did you know?

Could video games be digital medicine? UCSF's Neuroscape lab is developing video games and other high-tech tools to improve cognition and help treat a variety of disorders, including ADHD, autism, depression, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Learn more
UCSF Health
Follow UCSF Health:
Getting Care
  • Find a Doctor
  • Emergency Care
  • Primary Care
  • All Medical Services
  • International Services
  • Price Transparency
  • Help Paying Your Bill
Getting Involved
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Join Our Team
About Us
  • Locations & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Patient Relations
  • Media Resources
  • Accessibility Resources
  • Report Misconduct
  • Website Privacy Policy
  • Quality of Patient Care
  • Crisis Standards of Care
  • Our Organization
  • UCSF News
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
Research and Education
  • Clinical Trials
  • UC San Francisco
  • UCSF School of Medicine
  • UCSF School of Nursing
  • UCSF School of Pharmacy
Referring Physicians
  • Refer a Patient
  • Transfer a Patient
  • MDLink
  • Request a Consultation
  • Physician Channel
Follow UCSF Health:
© 2002 - 2025. The Regents of The University of California.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Some stock photos, posed by model.

Share

  • Email Link
  • Copy Link
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on X