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Article: Atherosclerosis
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Public Health
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ATHEROSCLEROSIS
The most common cause of death and disability in the United States is atherosclerosis, popularly known as "hardening of the arteries."
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Every year atherosclerosis causes about 500,000 deaths nationally, most of these due to heart attack or stroke. There are about 15 million people in the United States suffering from atherosclerosis, and another 60 million are at risk. The factors that put individuals at risk of atherosclerosis include high blood levels of cholesterol and sugar, high blood pressure, and tobacco use. Another important risk factor is a family history of premature atherosclerosis (e.g., a close relative who has had a heart attack or stroke under ...