Not only is cardiovascular disease the number one cause of death in North America, it is also the leading cause of death in the world.  According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease kills one person every 36 seconds. That’s 2,400 people each day and more than 876,000 each year.

Cardiovascular disease claims more lives each year than cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, lower respiratory diseases and accidents combined.

The leading cause of cardiovascular disease is having unhealthy levels of bad cholesterol, also known as LDL cholesterol. This cholesterol is a wax-like substance that, over time, forms a plaque on the inside of the artery. For most people there are no signs or symptoms that this plaque is building up, which is why it is a called the silent killer. Unfortunately for millions of people each year, this plaque buildup ruptures, resulting in a blocking of blood flow. If the blood flow going to the brain is blocked, it causes a stroke. If it is blocked going to the heart, it results in a heart attack.