Let's get to the heart of the matter. The landscape of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States is setting the stage for a near-perfect storm that could not only significantly affect the health of Americans but could leave a dire economic path of destruction for employers and for health care.

As reported in two new American Heart Association (AHA) presidential advisories, more than 184 million people or 61% of the population, are expected to have a type of CVD by 2050. This projection is driven by a mix of an older, more diverse population and a significant increase in high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Currently, CVD can cost employers billions of dollars each year in medical costs and lost productivity. By 2050, the anticipated increase in CVD is expected to triple costs, having a $1.8 trillion price tag in total costs, greatly impacting health care costs and employers' bottom lines.