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Heart Attack
Heart Attack
About every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.1 Michigan had 24,618 heart attack hospitalizations for people older than 35 years of age in 2018, which is the most recent year of data (MiTracking data portal). A heart attack, also called an acute myocardial infarction, happens when the blood that brings oxygen to the heart is severely reduced or completely blocked. This is usually caused by buildup of fat, cholesterol, or other substances in an artery in the heart.2
Heart attack hospitalization data are available on the MiTracking Data Portal.
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Risk Factors
Some people are at higher risk of having a heart attack. Major risk factors include3:
People who are:
- Adults aged 65 and older.
- Male gender.
People who have:
- History of heart disease.
- Family history of heart disease.
- Smoke tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke.
- High cholesterol.
- High blood pressure.
- Physical inactivity.
- Obesity or overweight.
- Diabetes.
- Stress.
- History of drinking too much alcohol.
- Unhealthy diet.
For more information, visit CDC - Heart Disease Risk Factors.
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Prevention
There are actions you can take to treat or control heart disease, such as4:
- Quit smoking or cut down on the amount you smoke. Help is available to quit smoking.
- Take steps to lower blood pressure if yours is higher than normal.
- Take prescribed blood pressure and cholesterol medicine.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Be physically active.
- Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
- Talk to your doctor about your health. Get regular check-ups.
- Check the Air Quality Index to learn when particulate matter (PM) air pollution might affect you. You can also sign up to receive air quality alerts from EnviroFlash.
- When PM levels are at unhealthy levels, spend more time inside and take it easy when you are outside.
For more information, visit American Heart Association - Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention.
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Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. But most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Heart attack signs vary between men and women.5
Men
- Chest pain or uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck, or back
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
- Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
Women
- Dull and heavy or sharp chest pain (Angina)
- Pain in neck, jaw, or throat
- Pain in upper abdomen or back
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Extreme fatigue
If you have these symptoms, call 911 immediately!
For more information, visit American Heart Association - Warning signs of a heart attack.
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Air Quality and Heart Disease
There are many types of air pollution, but particulate matter (PM) air pollution is known to be especially damaging to the heart and lungs.5, 6 PM is made up of small particles in the air and includes dust, dirt, soot, tobacco smoke7, and little drops of liquid. Many sources of PM come from human activity including vehicle exhaust, power plants, industry, and outdoor wood boilers. Natural sources include windblown soil and outdoor wood and grass fires. Both short term and long-term exposure to air pollution can increase risk for heart attacks and other types of heart disease.
Studies show that breathing in PM can trigger heart attacks and strokes and worsen heart failure. To protect your heart health, avoid as much exposure to particulate matter as possible, including exposure to second-hand smoke. Million Hearts® 2027, a national initiative to reduce 1 million heart attacks and strokes aims to decrease particulate pollution exposure. Visit Particle Pollution and Heart Disease for more information on this initiative.
For more information, visit EPA - Heart Disease, Stroke, and Outdoor Air Pollution
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Data - MiTracking
MiTracking Heart Attack Indicators
- Hospitalizations for heart attacks.
MiTracking Heart Attack Data Can Tell Us
- The number of heart attack hospitalizations among persons 35 and older.
- The crude rate of heart attack hospitalizations among persons among persons 35 and older per 10,000 people.
- The age-adjusted rate of heart attack hospitalizations among persons among persons 35 and older per 10,000 people.
MiTracking Heart Attack Data Cannot Tell Us
- The cause of heart attacks.
- The number of people who have had a heart attack but did not go to the hospital.
Find Out More
These hospitalization data are provided by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) through a contractual agreement.
For more data information, visit:
- About These Data (found in query search results).
- Metadata (Technical information about the content, quality, and context of the data).
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Learn More
American Heart Association (AHA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Environmental Public Health Tracking (Tracking Program)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Healthy Heart Toolkit and Research
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
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Citations
- CDC. About heart attack symptoms, risk and recovery. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/heart-attack.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm. Accessed June 20, 2024.
- American Heart Association. What is a heart attack? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks. Accessed June 20, 2024.
- American Heart Association. Understand your risks to prevent a heart attack. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/understand-your-risks-to-prevent-a-heart-attack#.V6yyr01THL. June 20, 2024.
- American Heart Association. Lifestyle changes for heart attack prevention. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention. June 20, 2024.
- EPA. Healthy heart toolkit and research: steps you can take. https://www.epa.gov/air-research/healthy-heart-toolkit-and-research-protect-your-heart. Accessed June 20, 2024.
- EPA. Health and environmental effects of Particulate Matter (PM). https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm. June 20, 2024.
- EPA. Particulate Matter (PM) Basics. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm. June 20, 2024.