Americans’ lives have been getting steadily longer since the 1960s, thanks in part to a steady decline in heart disease rates. However, that trend of longer, healthier lives may soon be coming to an end.

According to an article published in JAMA Cardiology, the previous decline in heart disease trends was due to two major factors: management of risk factors and improved medical care. However, the obesity epidemic threatens to end that progress.

Since 1985, more and more Americans have dealt with the high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and risk of diabetes that accompanies diabetes.

If this trend continues, heart disease will end up costing the U.S. $800 billion a year by 2030. That's equivalent to the stimulus package that Congress passed in 2008 to prevent a global financial disaster.

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