Among men and women, and across all racial and ethnic groups, heart disease and stroke are among our nation's leading killers and leading causes of disability. Although most of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke are modifiable or preventable, over 80 percent of Americans report having at least one major risk factor or related condition. These include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, major disparities exist among population groups, with certain racial/ethnic groups and other priority populations having substantially higher rates of death and disability from cardiovascular diseases than the overall population.