Heart disease is biggest killer

Heart disease still kills more people in England and Wales than any other condition, official figures show.

Office for National Statistics data showed one in five men and around one in six women died from heart disease, including heart attacks, in 2005. Heart Disease & Stokes - The Facts.

Diagnostic Tests for Heart Disease. Tests to establish whether people are at risk of, or have suffered, heart disease or stroke can involve chemicals being injected into the body - invasive - or readings taken externally only - non-invasive.

TOP 10 CAUSES OF DEATH IN MEN - 2005

Heart disease - 20.2%

Cerebrovascular diseases* - 7.9%

Lung cancer - 6.9%

Chronic lower respiratory disease - 5.6%

Flu/pneumonia - 5%

Prostate cancer - 3.7%

Colon cancer - 3.1%

Lymph cancers - 2.3%

Alzheimer's disease/dementia - 2.1%

Aortic aneurysm - 2%

TOP 10 CAUSES OF DEATH IN WOMEN - 2005

Heart disease - 16%

Cerebrovascular disease* - 12.9%

Flu/pneumonia - 7.9%

Alzheimer's disease/dementia - 5.2%

Chronic lower respiratory disease - 5.2%

Lung cancer - 4.9%

Breast cancer - 4.5%

Heart failure - 3%

Colon cancer - 2.7%

Urinary diseases - 2.5%

*: mainly strokes