In the U.S., heart attacks are common enough that roughly 1 person has one about every 40 seconds. That works out to well over 1 million heart attacks each year.

What that means

  • The number is a broad national average, so the actual pace varies by age, sex, season, and risk factors.
  • Heart attacks are also different from all heart disease cases overall; many more people live with chronic heart disease than have a heart attack in a given year.

Why it matters

  • Even though death rates from heart attacks have fallen over time, heart attacks still remain a major emergency in the U.S.
  • Risk is higher for people with factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, or a family history of heart disease.

When to act fast

  • Chest pressure or pain, shortness of breath, pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back, sudden sweating, or nausea can all be warning signs.
  • If those symptoms happen, treat it as an emergency and call emergency services right away.

TL;DR: In the U.S., a heart attack happens about every 40 seconds, so it’s a frequent and serious medical emergency.