Heart Disease Facts for Kids

A Picture of Heart Disease
  • Disease Group: Heart Disease
  • Disease Official Name: Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
  • Total Types of Heart Disease: 14+
  • Risk Factors: Genetics, Lack of Activity and Bad Dietary Habits
  • Treatment Methods: Medication, Dietary Changes and Surgery
  • Prevention Methods: Healthy Diet and Exercise

22 Heart Disease Facts for Kids

  1. Heart disease is a group of diseases that affect the heart.
  2. Heart disease is a subgroup of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  3. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
  4. Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization.
  5. It’s estimated that one in four deaths annually in the United States are related to heart disease.
  6. There are several different risk factors that can determine a person’s chance of developing heart disease.
  7. Some risk factors for heart disease can’t be controlled, like your age, gender or genetics.
  8. As you get older, each decade of your life triples the chance of developing heart disease.
  9. Men are more likely to develop heart disease than women.
  10. If your parents had heart disease, you’re three times more likely to development heart disease yourself.
  11. Some risk factors for heart disease can be controlled, like your diet and healthy habits.
  12. Diets that consist in high amounts of fats and salt are considered risk factors for developing heart disease.
  13. A lack of physical activity and obesity are considered risk factors for developing heart disease.
  14. Tobacco usage and excessive alcohol intake are considered risk factors for developing heart disease.
  15. There are many different cardiovascular diseases that affect the heart.
  16. A heart attack occurs when coronary artery diseases causes blood flow to decrease or stop to the heart.
  17. Congenital heart defect occurs at birth with a defect in the structure of the great vessels or the heart.
  18. Congestive heart failure occurs when your heart can’t pump blood sufficiently through your body.
  19. Heart arrhythmia occurs when your heartbeat rhythm is too slow, too fast or irregular.
  20. Hypertensive heart disease occurs when your blood pressure is remains elevated, this is commonly known as high blood pressure.
  21. Pulmonary heart disease occurs when the right ventricle of the heart enlarges and then fails due to something related to the respiratory system, like acute respiratory distress syndrome or COPD.
  22. Valvular heart disease occurs when one or more of the four values of the heart start to fail.

Additional Resources on Heart Disease

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