Surprising Factors That Cause a Heart Attack

Ever had a heart attack? Or know of anyone who has had a heart attack? If so, you know how serious this can be.

Health.com, has provided a list of surprising factors in the cause of a heart attack:

Good cholesterol on the down-low… almost 7,000 people in a study led by a researcher at IU studied the relationship between HDL (aka good cholesterol) and serious coronary events. The study finalized that low HDL was the 3rd most prevalent predictor of coronary events.
Do you have an infection? Flu or other respiratory tract infections put you at risk 5x more for a heart attack. Infections invite inflammatory response that is known to trigger a heart attack or stroke. Get your flu shot!
Weak kidneys. Having kidney problems can put you at serious risk for a heart attack.
Living in a big city? All the noise, heavy traffic and stress can easily lead to a heart attack.
Taking a calcium supplement? A New Zealand study found that women who consumed one gram of calcium citrate for five years had two times the risk for having a heart attack. Too much calcium can build up in the arteries which may be a cause for the heightened risk.
No more aspirin. Studies have concluded that after patients end aspirin therapy their risk for having a heart attack goes up tremendously.
Being treated for prostate cancer? This hormone treatment can heighten the predictability of sudden death from a heart attack.
Have psoriasis? People with psoriasis are more likely to smoke, be overweight and have high blood pressure, these are contributing factors for a heart attack. The disorder itself can trigger a heart attack by causing chronic inflammation.
Relationship problems. A negative relationship can elevate your risk of having a heart attack by 34%.

“If you have or are at risk for heart disease and want to stop taking aspirin, do so gradually and under the supervision of a doctor,” warns Matthew Sorrentino, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Chicago.

Think you might be having problems with your heart? Find a doctor near your home who can perform a heart scan to check on your ticker.

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