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A heart attack, or acute myocardial infarction, occurs when the vessels supplying blood to the heart become blocked. The resulting blood and oxygen shortage causes damage and potential death of heart tissue. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. 

In 2007, the American Heart Association estimated 565,000 new attacks and 300,000 recurrent attacks of MI (myocardial infarction) annually (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: based on unpublished data from the ARIC study and the Cardiovascular Health Study [CHS]). Among Americans aged =20 years, new and recurrent MI prevalence for both men and women represented 3.7% of the U.S. population or 7,900,000 (4.9 million men and 3.0 million women). Corresponding prevalence by race and ethnicity is 5.4% for white men, 2.5% for white women, 3.9% for black men, and 3.3% for black women.

Don't Smoke! Smoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack.

Physical activity helps you control your weight and can reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It also reduces stress, which may be a factor in heart disease.

There are many things that put people at risk for heart attack. According to the American Heart Association risk increases with age, men are at greater risk than women, and people with a family history of heart disease are at an increased risk as well. People who have diabetes, heart disease or respiratory problems, elderly people, and lower socioeconomic communities might be at increased risk of heart attack due to particulate air pollution.

Some major risk factors can be modified through lifestyle choices and/or medication. These risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Excess weight/obesity
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Physical Inactivity

The Kansas Environmental Public Health Tracking Program uses hospital discharge data to count the acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) across the state.

• KDHE Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Heart Disease Information

• American Heart Association Heart Attack Information

• Million Hearts ABCS of Heart Health