Impact of Heart Disease

The medical technology industry is continually advancing and developing new innovations that improve the health and well-being of patients worldwide.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart Disease comprises a number of different conditions, many of which are related to a condition known as atherosclerosis – the buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries. Heart diseases include heart attacks, ischemic strokes, heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart valve problems.¹

Did You Know

• Approximately 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men.
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease, killing over 370,000 people annually.
• Every year roughly 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.²

Managing Heart Disease with Medical Technology Solutions

While lifestyle changes are often the first solution to managing heart disease, medical technology can play an important role in the treatment of advanced cases.

Implantable medical devices like pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) help to control heart rhythm, while left ventricular assist devices or LVADs are used to support the heart and circulation.

In some cases, more involved cardiac procedures and surgeries may need to be performed. A list of these procedures can be found here.