The map above shows death rates from heart disease in women in the United States. The darker red indicates a higher death rate. But the numbers don't convey the true picture.  Behind each statistic is a person and a family impacted forever.

Despite increases in awareness over the past few decades, it is estimated that only about half (56%) of women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer.

Learn more facts about women and heart disease:

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing 299,578 women in 2017—or about 1 in every 5 female deaths.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American and white women in the United States. Among American Indian and Alaska Native women, heart disease and cancer cause roughly the same number of deaths each year. For Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander women, heart disease is second only to cancer as a cause of death.
• About 1 in 16 women age 20 and older (6.2%) have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease:
• About 1 in 16 white women (6.1%), black women (6.5%), and Hispanic women (6%)
• About 1 in 30 Asian women (3.2%)

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention