Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death and disability in
Britain today. They kill nearly 350,000 men, women and children
annually-more than all the other causes of death combined. Some diseases
affect primarily the arteries. Other affect the heart directly. The biggest
single problem is coronary artery disease. Britain has the unenviable
distinction now of being near the top of the international league for the
proportion of people dying from coronary artery disease.