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"Every year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack. Of these, 605,000 are a first heart attack. 200,000 happen to people who have already had a heart attack."(CDC.gov).

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , approximately every 40 seconds an American will have a heart attack. Every year, 805,000 Americans have a heart attack, 605,000 of them for the first time. About 12 percent of people who have a heart attack will die from it." (Healthline.com).

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A visual of a woman experiencing a heart attack and clutching her heart. 

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an EKG (electrocardiogram) diagnosing an active heart attack. 

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A animation of an artists rendition of an anatomically correct heart beating. 

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Lifestyle changes for heart attack prevention. www.heart.org. (2021, September 1). Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, April 7). Heart attack. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106

Thomas, J. (2020, July 16). Facts and statistics on heart disease. Healthline. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/statistics

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3 ways to prevent Heart Attacks                           

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3 ways to prevent Heart Attacks                           

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1.) Stop smoking, smoking increases the chances of developing heart disease.  This occurs since smoking causes plaque to form in the heart which in turn makes the heart have to work harder to function. This puts the heart under stress which increases the risk of developing heart disease which can lead to heart attacks.

2.) Choose good nutrition "A healthy diet is one of the best weapons you have to fight cardiovascular disease. The food you eat (and the amount) can affect other controllable risk factors: cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight" (Heart.org).

3.) Be physically active every day exercising decreases blood pressure, cholesterol, and keeps weight at a healthy limit all things which prevent heart attacks.

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Internal view of a heart attack occurring. 

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Statistics about heart disease by the American Heart Association. 

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"A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage is most often a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries)." (Mayo Clinic 1).

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Common heart attack symptoms include: Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back, Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain Shortness of breath, Cold sweat, Fatigue, Lightheadedness, or sudden dizziness

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Risk factors for heart attacks include age, tobacco use, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, genetics, family history of heart attacks, lack of physical activity, stress, illicit drug use, history of preeclampsia, having an autoimmune disorder.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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What is a heart attack?

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood.

The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main cause of heart attack. A less common cause is a severe spasm, or sudden contraction, of a coronary artery that can stop blood flow to the heart muscle.

What are the symptoms of heart attack?

The major symptoms of a heart attack are

Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat.

Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.

Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort, but shortness of breath also can happen before chest discomfort.

Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely to have these other symptoms. Learn more about women and heart disease.

Call 9-1-1 if you notice symptoms of a heart attack.

If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately. The sooner you get to an emergency room, the sooner you can get treatment to reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle. At the hospital, health care professionals can run tests to find out if a heart attack is happening and decide the best treatment.

In some cases, a heart attack requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or an electrical shock (defibrillation) to the heart to get the heart pumping again. Bystanders trained to use CPR or a defibrillator may be able to help until emergency medical personnel arrive.

Remember, the chances of surviving a heart attack are better the sooner emergency treatment begins.

What are the risk factors for heart attack?

Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack. These are called risk factors. About half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking. ²

Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.

Learn more about risk factors for heart disease and heart attack.

What can I do to recover after a heart attack?

If you've had a heart attack, your heart may be damaged. This could affect your heart's rhythm and its ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. You may also be at risk for another heart attack or conditions such as stroke, kidney disorders, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

You can lower your chances of having future health problems following a heart attack with these steps:

Physical activity-Talk with your health care team about the things you do each day in your life and work. Your doctor may want you to limit work, travel, or sexual activity for some time after a heart attack.

Lifestyle changes-Eating a healthier diet, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and managing stress-in addition to taking prescribed medicines-can help improve your heart health and quality of life. Ask your health care team about attending a program called cardiac rehabilitation to help you make these lifestyle changes.

Cardiac rehabilitation-Cardiac rehabilitation is an important program for anyone recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problem that required surgery or medical care. Cardiac rehab is a supervised program that includes

Physical activity

Education about healthy living, including healthy eating, taking medicine as prescribed, and ways to help you quit smoking

Counseling to find ways to relieve stress and improve mental health

A team of people may help you through cardiac rehab, including your health care team, exercise and nutrition specialists, physical therapists, and counselors or mental health professionals.

More Information

References

1. Benjamin EJ, Muntner P, Alonso A, Bittencourt MS, Callaway CW, Carson AP, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics-2019 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2019;139(10):e56-528.

2. Fryar CD, Chen T-C, Li X. Prevalence of uncontrolled risk factors for cardiovascular disease: United States, 1999-2010 pdf icon [PDF-494K] . NCHS data brief, no. 103. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2012. Accessed May 9, 2019.

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Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Recovery | cdc.gov

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A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main cause of heart attack.