Cost of Heart Disease to Reach $1 Trillion by 2035

Heart disease continues to top of the list of the most common causes of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. die each year from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death. But heart disease also places a heavy burden on healthcare systems, as experts predict the total cost of prevention and treatment will rise to a whopping $1 trillion by 3035.

A new report published by the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that heart disease costs will double from its current cost of $555 billion to roughly $1.1 trillion in 2035. Researchers say that by this time, some 45% of the general U.S. population will have at least one health problem associated with heart disease. Assuming these predictions are correct, that means some 131 million Americans will have heart problems by 2035.

These findings are startling to say the least, as researcher believe heart disease is growing more quickly than previous estimates. When the AHA made these estimates previously, they had projected that 40% of the population would suffer from heart problems by 3035. These new estimates, however, project an even higher incidence of heart problems at 45%.

The problem of heart disease is so bad that AHA researchers believe it could bankrupt the nation's economy and healthcare system.

"Our new projections indicate cardiovascular disease is on a course that could bankrupt our nation’s economy and health care system,” said AHA President Steven Houser. "The burden of cardiovascular disease is growing faster than our ability to combat it, and our new report indicates it could get much worse in the coming years."

So, what's contributing to the disturbing rise of heart disease? Researchers cite several factors, one of which is the aging population of "baby boomers." Other factors include increasing rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, both of which are key risk factors of heart disease.

Researchers say that a person's risk for developing heart disease at age 24 is about 20%. By age 45, however, the risk jumps to 50% -- that's more than double the original risk.

While there's no way to completely prevent heart disease -- not yet, at least -- there are steps you can take to lower your risk. Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet consisting primarily of lean meats, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, for instance, promotes a healthy heart. Exercising on a regular basis also reduces the risk of heart disease.

The AHA currently recommends 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity for at least 5 days per week or 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity for at least 3 days per week and moderate-to-high-intensity muscle strengthening activity for at least 2 days per week.