Heart disease costs are predicted to triple in the next 20 years in the U.S., according to predictions from the American Heart Association (AHA).

According to new research from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, about a quarter of African-Americans have a gene that helps protect them against heart disease.

Costs associated with treating heart disease and heart conditions increased more than 200 percent in Canada from 1996 to 2006, and are expected to triple in the U.S. by 2030.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has published a statement outlining the important role of advocacy in maintaing heart health during times of economic hardship.