Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for more than a century. There is real progress to report: according to a study published in 2025, deaths from heart disease fell by about 66 percent between 1970 and 2022, and deaths from heart attacks fell by almost 90 percent.
The same study found an important shift. As fewer people die of heart attacks, more are dying of other heart conditions, including heart failure, arrhythmias and hypertensive heart disease. Understanding that shift helps explain why prevention matters more than ever.
The big picture
The researchers analysed heart disease deaths from 1970 to 2022. In 1970, more than half of heart disease deaths were from heart attacks. By 2022, heart attacks accounted for less than a third, while deaths from other heart conditions such as heart failure and arrhythmias rose by 81 percent.
Dr. Sara King, the study's lead author, put it this way: "We've gotten really good at treating heart attacks and helping people survive them. But now we're seeing more people live longer with chronic heart conditions that eventually cause death."
Why heart attack deaths fell
The decline reflects decades of medical and public-health advances. Coronary bypass surgery and dedicated cardiac units arrived in the 1960s. Better cardiac imaging followed in the 1970s, then balloon angioplasty and, in the 1980s and 1990s, stents. New medicines dissolved clots, managed blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduced the risk of repeat events. Smoking bans, physical-activity campaigns and clearer clinical guidelines all contributed.
The new challenge
Deaths from heart failure rose 146 percent over the study period, deaths from hypertensive heart disease rose 106 percent, and deaths from arrhythmias rose 450 percent from a small base. The authors point to two drivers: people are living longer, so more hearts age into chronic conditions, and several underlying risk factors have worsened. Adult obesity rose from 15 to 40 percent. Nearly half of adults now have diabetes or pre-diabetes. High blood pressure affects almost half of adults, up from 30 percent in 1978.
What this means for you
The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 summarises what the evidence supports: eat better, be more active, quit tobacco, get healthy sleep, manage weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar and manage blood pressure. High blood pressure deserves particular attention because it usually has no symptoms, and it is a major risk factor for the conditions now driving the numbers. Knowing your readings and working with your physician on them is the starting point.
Where the Zona Plus fits
Regular physical activity is one of the eight essentials, and for many people the hardest one to keep up. The Zona Plus is a handheld isometric exercise device that guides a seated handgrip session of just under 12 minutes, calibrated each time to your own grip strength. It is designed to be an easy routine to keep, alongside whatever exercise and care plan you already follow.
The Zona Plus is a handheld isometric exercise device intended for adjunctive use in the maintenance of overall cardiovascular wellness. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent high blood pressure or any disease. Talk with your physician about your blood pressure and before starting any exercise program. Never change a treatment plan without medical advice.
Looking to the future
Dr. Latha Palaniappan, one of the study's authors, notes: "While heart attack deaths are down by 90% since 1970, heart disease hasn't gone away. Now that people are surviving heart attacks, we are seeing a rise in other forms of heart disease like heart failure." The authors argue that the focus must widen from treating heart attacks to preventing all forms of heart disease, starting early and continuing through life.
The past 50 years show what medicine and public health can achieve. The next chapter depends on prevention: knowing your numbers, keeping the habits that protect your heart, and staying in conversation with your physician.
This article is for general education only and is not medical advice.
