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Each year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack. That’s one person every 40 seconds.
You may know that smoking, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet high in salt and saturated fat (which is solid at room temperature), can hurt your heart. But you might be surprised to discover how some other factors—like climate change, your relationships, and even strong emotions to sports—can increase heart attack risk.
Here’s what you should know about some surprising causes of heart attacks, plus proven ways to help keep your heart strong and healthy.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 25
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes. Page last reviewed May 18, 2021.
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- Maturana MA, Glover EA, Raja J, et al. Are Die-Hard Football or Other Sports Fans at Risk of Cardiovascular Events? Curr Probl Cardiol. 2021 Mar;46(3):100743.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery. Page last reviewed July 12, 2022.
