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Why is ischemic heart disease the leading cause of death worldwide?

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Health monitoring — human disease The routine monitoring of blood pressure levels is an important part of assessing an individual's health. Blood pressure provides information about the amount of blood in circulation and about heart function and thus is an important indicator of disease.

Ischemic heart disease—also known as coronary artery disease—is the leading cause of death worldwide because it is a widespread, life-threatening condition that directly compromises the heart's ability to function. It occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked by fatty plaques, a process known as atherosclerosis. This blockage reduces oxygen flow to the heart muscle, which can lead to angina pectoris, heart attack, and heart failure.12

The high global mortality rate is driven by several major, often preventable, risk factors that have become increasingly common due to modern lifestyle and dietary changes. These include:31

Hypertension (high blood pressure)14
Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)14
Smoking14
Diabetes mellitus14
Sedentary lifestyles and poor diet31

While medical advancements in cardiovascular surgery and angioplasty have improved treatment, the disease remains a significant global health crisis, responsible for approximately 9 million deaths in 2021 alone.315