Heart disease and stroke can affect anyone. Today, more than 3.5 million people across the country of all ages, ethnicities and genders are living with heart disease, stroke and vascular cognitive impairment. In our province alone, 18,240 Nova Scotians aged 40+ are living with heart failure and 20,620 Nova Scotians have had a stroke. 

The good news is that we have made great progress in awareness, prevention, treatment and recovery. However, as the population ages and more younger people are being diagnosed with these conditions, the urgency to beat heart disease and stroke grows

Here are the key pressure points we are facing:

• Age is major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Over seven million people in Canada are 65 years or older and by 2037 this number is expected to climb to well over 10 million.

• Heart failure is one of the fastest growing cardiovascular conditions in the world. In Canada, 750,000 people aged 40 years and older are currently living with it and 100,000 people are diagnosed each year.

• Stroke is on the rise in younger adults (20 – 59 years), at a rate faster than older adults. Vascular risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes in this age group are also increasing.  



• The number of people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure has been steadily climbing since 2000. Almost 8 million people in Canada have been diagnosed with hypertension, the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease.