HEART DISEASE CONTINUES to be the number one cause of death in the United States, making up about 23 percent of deaths in this country in 2018. About 659,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. Because heart disease is so prevalent, it's understandable that many of the pilots we work with in the AOPA Pilot Information Center medical group are being treated for these conditions, and are dealing with the FAA to acquire a special issuance medical authorization. Equally not surprising, the FAA does more special issuances for cardiovascular disease than any other medical pathology. About 13,000 cardiac special issuances are granted annually for all three classes of medical certification. That's more than one-third of the total special issuances for all the other medical conditions that require discretionary issuance.
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