One third of all deaths are caused by atherosclerotic heart disease.
Atherosclerosis was virtually unknown in Europe before 1900, but steadily increased until the 1940s. After a short decline, it increased again until the mid 1980s.
Atherosclerosis is more prevalent in the western world, but there are variations. Incidence is high in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales, Finland and the US, but lower in France, Japan and some Mediterranean countries. Rates are rapidly increasing in Asia.
Most deaths from heart disease are caused by a heart attack.
Half of all people who suffer a heart attack or stroke have no warning symptoms, nor do they have any significant risk factors. And other people with risk factors may live to a great age.
250,000 people die from heart attacks in Britain each year.
The economic cost of heart attacks runs into billions of pounds each year.
In London there are about 100 attacks a day, 40% of which are fatal within one hour and 50% within one day.
Your cardiovascular system, which includes your heart, arteries and veins, contains about five litres (eight pints) of blood.
Each day your heart beats about 100,000 times and pumps about 23,000 litres (5,000 gallons) of blood.
The first heart transplant in the UK took place on May 3 1968 at the National Heart Hospital in Marylebone, London.
Around 6,000 heart transplants have been carried out in the UK, with around 150 now done annually.