Book excerpt: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has two main components: diseases of the heart (cardio) and diseases of the blood vessels (vascular). As such, the circulatory system of the heart and blood vessels make up the cardio-vascular system. For example, a heart attack is a disease of the heart while stroke is a disease of the blood vessels. Both are major forms of CVD. CVD has been the number one killer in the United States every year for more than a century, except during the 1918 flu pandemic. In 2004, CVD claimed 871,500 lives or one out of every 2.8 deaths. The cost of caring for patients with CVD in the United States for 2006 is estimated at a whooping sum of US$403.1 billion. The good news is that we don’t have to be victimized by CVD. Find out how the “silent killers within,” namely pre-diabetes, diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure, are connected to CVD. Discover how diet and nutrition, selected food supplementation and lifestyle changes can help you prevent or reduce your risk of CVD. The advice contained in this book can open the door to a healthier, richer, and happier life. Take a positive step now to arrest the “silent killers within” and you will add years to your life and life to your years.