History

The marked increase in deaths attributed to heart disease, from 1900 until the late 1960s, was almost certainly due to an increase in the incidence of coronary atherosclerosis, with resultant coronary heart disease. Americans were living longer due to a decrease in deaths from infectious diseases.

In the 1960s, there was no treatment for a heart attack. If they survived, victims were confined to a hospital bed, given painkillers and told to take complete rest. If they died in their 50s or 60s, like Robert's father, it was considered a fact of life.

First described in 1768 by William Heberden, it was believed by many to have something to do with blood circulating in the coronary arteries, though others thought it was a harmless condition, according to the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 17 million people die each year from cardiovascular disease, particularly heart attacks and strokes.

In India in 2016, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) contributed to 28·1% of total deaths and 14·1% of total disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) compared with 15·2% and 6·9%, respectively in 1990. Within India, the rates of CVD vary markedly with highest in states of Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. Moreover, these states also have the highest prevalence of raised cholesterol levels and blood pressure. At present, India has the highest burden of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). Another significant problem in India, among other CVD's, is that of hypertensive heart disease, with 261,694 deaths in 2013 (an increase of 138% in comparison with 1990). Rheumatic heart disease remains in epidemic proportions in India with an estimated prevalence of 1.5-2 per 1000 individuals. Migrant Asian Indians have a 3-time higher prevalence of CAD than the native population. Indians are liable to get hospitalized 2–4 times more frequently for complications of CAD, in comparison with other ethnic groups, and admission rates are 5–10 times higher for populations younger than 40 years.