Here are some heart attack facts that you may have not known.

1. Every 20 seconds, someone dies of a heart attack. It is estimated that a fatal heart attack occurs every minute.¹
2. Heart attacks are medically known as myocardial infarctions.
3. It is estimated by the CDC that 805,000 people in the United States will experience a heart attack each year. Another heart attack fact is 605,000 of these people are having their first heart attack. 200,000 people who experience a heart attack have already had one.²
4. According to data collected by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, an average hospital stay for a heart attack patient costed $21,500. Each patient stayed for an average of 5.3 days in the hospital.³
5. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of heart attacks. This is a condition where the arteries become clogged by cholesterol that builds up to create plaque, which makes blood unable to flow through the body.⁴
6. Some people will have a heart attack and not even know it. These are called “silent” heart attacks. These heart attacks affect 45% of people who get heart attacks and will affect more men than women.⁵
7. There are steps you can take to prevent heart attacks. These include quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, controlling your cholesterol, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, limiting alcohol, and reducing stress.⁶
8. Men over 45 and women who are over 50 or done with menopause are at a greater risk of having a heart attack than younger individuals.⁷
9. However, young adults under 40 who have diabetes, have high blood pressure, have high cholesterol, use marijuana or cocaine, or smoke are more at risk for a heart attack than those who don’t.⁸
10. Signs of a heart attack include chest pain, fatigue, a cold sweat, nausea, heartburn, and shortness of breath.⁹
11. Your risk of having a heart attack on a Monday is higher than on any other day of the week. Some studies estimate that the heart attack risk can be 20% higher.¹⁰
12. There is also a higher risk of getting a heart attack on Christmas Eve. There is a 37% increased risk of getting a heart attack on this holiday due to factors such as stress and unhealthy diet habits that raise the body’s cholesterol.¹¹
13. Women are more at risk for health issues when they have a heart attack. Women face a 20% risk of developing heart failure or dying within 5 years after their first heart attack.¹²
14. There are several ways a medical professional can diagnose a heart attack. These include listening to the heart, checking the pulse, using an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check for damage, utilizing blood tests for heart damage, and coronary angiography to see how blood flows through your heart.¹³
15. Aspirin can help someone who is having a heart attack while they wait for an ambulance. Aspirin can help prevent blood clotting, which can help reduce heart damage. If someone can’t take aspirin due to allergies or a doctor’s recommendation, then do not give them aspirin.¹⁴
16. For those who experience heart attacks, there are cardiac rehabilitation programs. These programs will teach people how to stay physically active, the importance of taking medication every day, dieting tips, and ways to help them live with any damage they may have after a heart attack.¹⁵
17. According to the American College of Cardiology, the earliest record of heart disease that caused a heart attack was an Egyptian princess who lived in 1580 and 1550 B.C.¹⁶

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

1. https://www.unitypoint.org/waterloo/article.aspx?id=12039594-19a6-4fa2-8e58-cd1647daa647
2. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm 
3. https://www.pdcenterlv.com/blog/the-cost-of-a-heart-attack/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Agency%20for,%24100%2C000%20when%20surgery%20is%20involved.
4. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/causes/
5. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-danger-of-silent-heart-attacks
6. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention
7. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16818-heart-attack-myocardial-infarction
8. https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-health/facts-stats-you
9. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106
10. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/why-are-there-more-heart-attacks-on-monday/85-60c3c62d-bd3f-481f-ad8b-0b5079176c0a#:~:text=Your%20risk%20of%20having%20a,as%20much%20as%2020%%20higher.
11. https://www.news4jax.com/health/2020/12/21/risk-of-heart-attack-peaks-on-christmas-eve-study-shows/#:~:text=Researchers%20find%20a%2037%25%20higher%20risk%20of%20heart%20attacks%20on%20the%20holiday&text=The%20risk%20of%20a%20heart,for%20older%20and%20sicker%20people.
12. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/women-found-to-be-at-higher-risk-for-heart-failure-and-heart-attack-death-than-men
13. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/heart-attack
14. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-heart-attack/basics/art-20056679
15. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/heart-attack.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm
16. https://www.baystatehealth.org/articles/history-of-heart-disease