Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHeart Attack OverviewHow Common?EthnicityAge and GenderCauses and Risk FactorsMortality RatesEarly Detection
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Heart Attack Overview
How Common?
Ethnicity
Age and Gender
Causes and Risk Factors
Mortality Rates
Early Detection
Each year, more than 800,000 people in the United States have aheart attack(myocardial infarction). The majority of these heart attacks are for the first time.
About 25% of diagnosed heart attacks happen to people who have already survived one. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. men and women.
This article highlights important facts and statistics you should know about heart attacks.
Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images
Heart attacks are a type of cardiovascular disease (heart disease). They can cause serious complications and may even lead to death. Heart attacks happen when there is a lack of blood flow to parts of the heart muscle. Blood flow is reduced over time when the heart arteries get clogged (atherosclerosis).
Low or blocked blood flow is calledischemia. Without enough blood flow, the heart’s muscle is starved for oxygen and other nutrients, which can cause chest pain, heart muscle damage, or even heart muscle death.
If caught early, chest pain can be a warning sign of interrupted blood flow, and the blockage may be reversible.When the heart lacks blood flow for some time, the heart muscle becomes injured. Damage to heart cells can occur with just 10–15 minutes of poor blood flow.Heart muscle tissue death from interrupted blood flow is diagnosed as a heart attack.
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Main Differences
How Common Are Heart Attacks?
More than one in every three adults has cardiovascular disease.Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
In a single year, 805,000 adults have heart attacks—605,000 people have their first heart attack, and 200,000 people have a repeat heart attack.
However, due to the complex nature of heart attacks and their classification, it can be challenging to get exact numbers—often called theincidence or prevalence—of people affected.
In the United States, the rates of heart attacks are decreasing over time.And from 2000 to 2014, fewer people of all races had to stay in the hospital because of heart attacks.
Overall, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native American Indians, and some groups of Asian and Pacific Islanders have higher heart disease rates than White people.
Disparities in heart diseaseare known to exist throughout the United States.This is believed to be partly due to race, inherited factors, andsocial determinants of health.
Heart attack rates increase as people age and are most common among people 80 and older. The average age for the first heart attack is 65.5 years for males. Females tend to have their first heart attack when slightly older at an average age of 72 years.
Men are more likely to have heart attacks than women, except for people ages 20–39, when women are slightly more likely to have them.
Heart Attack Symptoms in WomenChest discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women. However, women are more likely toexperience vague symptomslike shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting.
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
Chest discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women. However, women are more likely toexperience vague symptomslike shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting.
Causes of Heart Attack and Risk Factors
A heart attack can happen when circulation to the heart decreases or stops.Coronary artery diseaseis a cause of many heart attacks.Over time, the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked in areas calledplaques.
Risk factors for heart disease and heart attack include:
Approximately 50% of people in the United States have at least one of these risk factors.In many cases, these risk factors can improve with diet, exercise, and medications.
Other risk factors, such as older age, being male, inherited genetics, and family history, can increase your risk of a heart attack.
What Causes a Heart Attack?
What Are the Mortality Rates for Heart Attacks?
Heart disease causes one out of every five deaths.Currently, 14 out of 100 people will die from a heart attack.About 77% of deaths from heart disease occur outside of the hospital.
Men have higher mortality rates than women. Black people have the highest age-adjusted mortality rate of all races studied. And people in rural areas die more often than those in urban areas.
Survival rates after heart attacks are improving. Overall, mortality rates from heart attacks are decreasing, which means fewer people die from their heart attacks.
Screening and Early Detection
It is important to know the warning signs of a heart attack. Possible signs and symptoms include:
Seek emergency care immediately if you believe you’re having a heart attack or if you have the warning signs of a heart attack.
Seek emergency care immediately if you believe you are having a heart attack or if you’re experiencing the warning signs of one. Rapid care from your emergency medical services (EMS) can often providelife-savingtreatments.
There are a variety of tests todiagnose a heart attack, what kind of heart attack you are having, and where the blockage is likely to be. Some initial tests may include:
14 Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease
Summary
Heart attacks may happen gradually or rapidly. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms can be frightening. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a heart attack may prolong your life and reduce its effects on your health. Know the signs of a possible heart attack and seek medical attention immediately. Quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly may help to reduce your risk of having a heart attack. Be sure to speak with your medical team to understand your risk of heart disease and any recommended treatments.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart disease facts.
American Heart Association (AHA).What is a heart attack?
National Institute on Aging.What is a heart attack?
Thygesen K, Alpert JS, Jaffe AS, et al.Fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (2018).Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2018;72(18):2231-2264. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.08.1038
American Heart Association.Heart failure projected to increase dramatically, according to new statistics.
American Heart Association (AHA).Heart disease and stroke statistics — 2022 update.
American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association.Cardiovascular disease: A costly burden for America — Projections through 2035.
Virani SS, Alonso A, Aparicio HJ, et al.Heart disease and stroke statistics—2021 update: A report from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2021;143(8). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950
American Heart Association (AHA).Understand your risks to prevent a heart attack.
American Heart Association.Heart attack symptoms in women.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
Ariss RW, Minhas AMK, Issa R, et al.Demographic and regional trends of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction in the United States, 1999 to 2019.The American Journal of Cardiology. 2022;164:7-13. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.10.023
American Heart Association (AHA).Warning signs of a heart attack.
American Heart Association (AHA).Non-invasive tests and procedures.
American Heart Association (AHA).Invasive tests and procedures.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
