In today’s era changing living standards have led to a significant increase in High blood pressure and heart disease and its associated mortality. According to 2023 data, heart disease, arrhythmia, and high blood pressure have led to an 81% increase in mortality due to heart disease in the United States. In 2023, the number of deaths due to heart disease was 6,80,981, meaning 1 in every 5 deaths was heart-related.
According to the statistics of people with heart disease in 2022, 8,05,000 Americans had a heart attack, of which 6,05,000 were first-time and 2,00,000 were second-time. The average age of first-time stroke is 65.6 years for men and 72 years for women, and one person has a heart attack every 40 seconds. About 82% of deaths from heart disease occur in people over the age of 65, with 11% occurring in the 20–40 age group, 37% in the 40–60 age group, 71% in the 60–80 age group, and 85% in the 80+ age group.
What causes high blood pressure and heart disease?
The risk of heart disease is increasing due to work stress, lack of sleep, excessive mobile/screen use, lack of exercise, smoking and poor diet.
Heart disease mortality rate by age
| Age Group | Average mortality rate (in percentage) |
| 20–39 years | 2% – 4% (decreased mortality in young age but increasing concern) |
| 40–59 years | 15% – 20% (impact of lifestyle and stress) |
| 60–79 years | 50% – 55% (main age group of victims) |
| 80 years and over | 25% – 30% (multiple heart-related diseases occur together) |
What is Heart Attack?
If the arteries supplying blood to your heart (coronary arteries) are blocked, the heart muscles do not get oxygen and this causes a heart attack (Heart Attack/Myocardial Infarction). If this attack is not treated in time, it can lead to death.
Therefore, it is necessary to check your blood pressure in your daily life, let’s see what your blood pressure should be according to your age. Which will help you avoid the risk of heart disease.
| Age Group | Men (mm Hg) | Women (mm Hg) |
| 18–39 | 119/70 | 110/68 |
| 40–59 | 124/77 | 122/74 |
| 60+ | 133/69 | 139/68 |
If blood pressure levels are outside the normal range, damage to the blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and brain can occur. It is very important to keep blood pressure levels low. With treatment, we can keep this level under control.
Measures to control blood pressure and prevent heart disease :
Exercise regularly (30 minutes daily)
Walking, cycling, brisk walking or doing yoga for a short time every day helps a lot in controlling blood pressure.
Consume less salt in your diet. Eat a balanced diet.
Eat less salt in your meals and at the same time consume fresh fruits, vegetables and avoid eating fatty foods as much as possible.
Check your blood pressure and cholesterol regularly
Always check your blood pressure, so that you know about heart diseases and it is easier to take further measures.
Stop smoking and drinking.
Smoking and drinking are things that both damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease.
Find ways to reduce stress. (Yoga, meditation)
The cause of high blood pressure is stress and regular meditation and yoga are necessary to control it.
Health check-ups are essential.
It is essential to have regular check-ups, preferably after the age of 40, and a full body check-up once a year.
What is the heart disease mortality rate in the US ?
The death rate from heart disease in the United States was 680,981 in 2023, or 1 in 5 deaths (about 20%). That’s an estimated 203.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 2024.
Which age group has the highest risk of heart disease ?
The highest risk of heart disease appears to occur in people after the age of 60.
What are the main causes of heart disease mortality ?
The greatest risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, a diet high in salt, excessive alcohol consumption, and diabetes.
How can I reduce my risk of heart disease by age ?
Regular health check-ups along with effective exercises like walking at a fast and slow pace, doing yoga along with regular ECG, echocardiogram, and blood tests.