Heart disease continues to be a major health concern in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, heartdisease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. In 2008, more than 616,000 people died of heart disease in the United States, the CDC reports. The organization also notes that every year about 785,000 Americans have their first coronary heart attack, while another 470,000 who have already had one or more coronary attacks have another attack.

With numbers like these, more and more scientific studies are conducted each year looking for answers to help reduce the risk of heart disease.