Causes of Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction - ACS) : Reducing Your Risk

Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow stops to a part of the heart causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. Often it is in the center or left side of the chest and lasts for more than a few minutes. The discomfort may occasionally feel like heartburn. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling faint, a cold sweat, or feeling tired

Most MIs occur due to coronary artery disease. Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood cholesterol, poor diet, and excessive alcohol intake, among others. The mechanism of an MI often involves the complete blockage of a coronary artery caused by a rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque

Cardiovascular

50 causes

Protective Factors	Studies
Protective Factor Moderate Exercise Selfcare	2 studies Leisure-Time Physical Activity Reduces Total and Cardiovascular Mor... Study in 2016 -50% with High evidence in 20 years 2,456 subjects Leisure-Time Physical Activity Reduces Total and Cardiovascular Mor... Study in 2016 -35% with High evidence in 20 years 2,456 subjects
Protective Factor Red Yeast Rice Nutrition	1 study Effect of Xuezhikang, an Extract From Red Yeast Chinese Rice, on Co... Study in 2008 -45% with High evidence in 4 years 5,000 subjects
Protective Factor Fish & SeaFood rich in... Nutrition	4 studies Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -63% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in coronary heart disease: a meta-a... Study in 2002 -30% with High evidence in 4 years 7,951 subjects ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biomarkers and Coronary Heart Diseas... Study in 2016 -25% with Moderate evidence in 10 years 19 subjects Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Nuts & Peanuts Nutrition	2 studies Consumption of nuts and legumes and risk of incident ischemic heart... Study in 2014 -24% with High evidence in 10 years 501,791 subjects Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Fruits Nutrition	1 study Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -67% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Whole grains Nutrition	1 study Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -67% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Red Wine Beverage	1 study Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -58% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Olive oil Nutrition	1 study Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -40% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Pets Selfcare	1 study Cat ownership and the Risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Diseases. Result... Study in 2009 -37% with Moderate evidence in 20 years 4,435 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Vegetables Nutrition	1 study Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -29% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Spinach Nutrition	1 study Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Cacao Nutrition	1 study Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Soy Nutrition	1 study Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Bananas Nutrition	1 study Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Broccoli Nutrition	1 study Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Moderate evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Yoghurt Nutrition	1 study Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ty... Study in 2016 -22% with Low evidence in 14 years 1,000,000 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Mediterranean diet Nutrition	2 studies Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -79% with Low evidence 342 subjects Dietary patterns and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular event... -5% with High evidence in 3 years 8 months 15,482 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Coffee (Caffeine) Beverage	1 study Coffee, tea, and mortality Study in 1993 -2% with Moderate evidence 128,934 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Meat & Foods rich in B... Nutrition	2 studies Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 +116% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects Low protein intake is associated with a major reduction in IGF-1, c... Study in 2014 -45% with High evidence in 18 years 6,381 subjects

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Risk Factors	Studies
Strong Risk Factor Smoking Contaminant	1 study Relative and Absolute Excess Risks of Coronary Heart Disease among ... Study in 1987 +480% with High evidence in 6 years 119,404 subjects
Strong Risk Factor Sedentary Lifestyle Selfcare	1 study Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiov... Study in 2012 +147% with High evidence in 10 years 794,577 subjects
Strong Risk Factor Learning Disability Brain system	1 study Health characteristics and consultation patterns of people with int... Study in 2016 +126% with High evidence 100,972 subjects
Risk Factor Lead Exposure Contaminant	2 studies Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +89% with High evidence 60,000 subjects Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +66% with Low evidence 60,000 subjects
Risk Factor Trimethylamine N-oxid... Digestive system	2 studies Gut microbiota-dependent trimethylamine N-oxide in acute coronary s... Study in 2017 +465% with Moderate evidence in 6 months 530 subjects Gut microbiota-dependent trimethylamine N-oxide in acute coronary s... Study in 2017 +57% with Moderate evidence in 1 year 530 subjects
Risk Factor Chronic kidney disease Urinary system	1 study Absolute Rates of Heart Failure, Coronary Heart Disease, and Stroke... Study in 2016 +71% with High evidence in 12 years 14,462 subjects
Risk Factor Mercury Contaminant	1 study Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +69% with High evidence 60,000 subjects
Risk Factor Herpes Zoster Intergumentary system	1 study Acute Cardiovascular Events after Herpes Zoster: A Self-Controlled ... Study in 2015 +68% with High evidence in 1 week 67,191 subjects
Risk Factor Marital stress Selfcare	1 study Marital Stress Worsens Prognosis in Women With Coronary Heart Disea... Study in 2000 +190% with Moderate evidence 292 subjects
Risk Factor Anxiety Brain system	1 study Phobic Anxiety and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Sudden Cardia... Study in 2005 +59% with High evidence in 12 years 72,359 subjects
Risk Factor Processed Meat Nutrition	3 studies Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 +116% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects Processed and unprocessed red meat consumption and risk of heart fa... Study in 2014 +28% with Moderate evidence in 11 years 37,035 subjects Red Meat Consumption and Mortality Results From 2 Prospective Cohor... Study in 2012 +21% with High evidence in 22 years 121,000 subjects
Risk Factor Irritability And Anger Brain system	1 study Triggering of Acute Myocardial Infarction Onset by Episodes of Anger Study in 1995 +130% with Moderate evidence 1,623 subjects
Risk Factor Marijuana Herb	1 study Triggering Myocardial Infarction by Marijuana Study in 2001 +380% with Low evidence 3,882 subjects
Minor Risk Factor PM25 Outdoor Air Pollu... Contaminant	1 study Increased Particulate Air Pollution and the Triggering of Myocardia... Study in 2001 +69% with Moderate evidence 772 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Amygdalar activity Brain system	1 study Relation between resting amygdalar activity and cardiovascular even... Study in 2017 +59% with Moderate evidence in 3 years 9 months 293 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Passive Entertainment ... Selfcare	1 study Television Viewing and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Dise... Study in 2011 +15% with High evidence in 10 years 34,253 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Contraceptive pills Manufactured	1 study Risk of Acute Thromboembolic Events With Oral Contraceptive Use: A ... Study in 2013 +34% with Low evidence in 9 years
Minor Risk Factor Heart Rate Cardiovascular system	1 study Resting Heart Rate and Long-term Outcomes Among the African America... Study in 2016 +10% with Moderate evidence 5,261 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Saturated Fat Nutrition	1 study Intake of saturated and trans unsaturated fatty acids and risk of a... Study in 2015 +17% with Low evidence
Minor Risk Factor Red Meat Nutrition	4 studies Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 +116% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects Low protein intake is associated with a major reduction in IGF-1, c... Study in 2014 -22% with High evidence in 18 years 6,381 subjects Processed and unprocessed red meat consumption and risk of heart fa... Study in 2014 +20% with Low evidence in 11 years 37,035 subjects Red Meat Consumption and Mortality Results From 2 Prospective Cohor... Study in 2012 +18% with High evidence in 22 years 121,000 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Refined grains Nutrition	1 study Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 +11% with Low evidence 342 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Alcohol Beverage	3 studies Mediterranean diet and reduction in the risk of a first acute myoca... Study in 2002 -58% with Moderate evidence 342 subjects Alcohol Abuse and Cardiac Disease Study in 2017 +45% with High evidence in 3 years 14,727,591 subjects Roles of Drinking Pattern and Type of Alcohol Consumed in Coronary ... Study in 2002 -37% with Moderate evidence in 12 years 38,077 subjects

Outcomes	References
Minor Risk Factor Delirium Brain system	1 study Delirium and dementia in acute medical admissions of elderly patien... Study in 1993 +27% with Low evidence 331 subjects

Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pa...

51 causes found in 50 health studies

Atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib) is an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating. Often it starts as brief periods o...

5 causes found in 4 health studies

Heart failure (HF), often referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain bloo...

4 causes found in 6 health studies

Coronary Heart Disease (Ischaemic Heart Disease) Cardiovascular

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries suppl...

41 causes found in 36 health studies

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the five major groups of lipoprotein. These groups, from least dense (largest particles) to most dense...

23 causes found in 23 health studies

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) Cardiovascular

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in one of your heart's two lower pumping chambers (ventric...

1 cause found in 1 health study

Stroke is when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, an...

65 causes found in 42 health studies

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood ...

5 causes found in 5 health studies

There are 19 factors preventing Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction - ACS), including:

Protective Factor Moderate ExerciseSelfcare

Protective Factor Red Yeast RiceNutrition

Protective Factor Fish & SeaFood rich in...Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Nuts & PeanutsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor FruitsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Whole grainsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Red WineBeverage

Minor Protective Factor Olive oilNutrition

Minor Protective Factor PetsSelfcare

Minor Protective Factor VegetablesNutrition

Minor Protective Factor SpinachNutrition

Minor Protective Factor CacaoNutrition

Minor Protective Factor SoyNutrition

Minor Protective Factor BananasNutrition

Minor Protective Factor BroccoliNutrition

Minor Protective Factor YoghurtNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Mediterranean dietNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Coffee (Caffeine)Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Meat & Foods rich in B...Nutrition

There are 22 factors increasing Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction - ACS), including:

Strong Risk Factor SmokingContaminant

Strong Risk Factor Sedentary LifestyleSelfcare

Strong Risk Factor Learning DisabilityBrain system

Risk Factor Lead ExposureContaminant

Risk Factor Trimethylamine N-oxid...Digestive system

Risk Factor Chronic kidney disease Urinary system

Risk Factor MercuryContaminant

Risk Factor Herpes ZosterIntergumentary system

Risk Factor Marital stressSelfcare

Risk Factor AnxietyBrain system

Risk Factor Processed MeatNutrition

Risk Factor Irritability And AngerBrain system

Risk Factor MarijuanaHerb

Minor Risk Factor PM25 Outdoor Air Pollu...Contaminant

Minor Protective Factor Amygdalar activity Brain system

Minor Risk Factor Passive Entertainment ...Selfcare

Minor Risk Factor Contraceptive pillsManufactured

Minor Risk Factor Heart RateCardiovascular system

Minor Risk Factor Saturated FatNutrition

Minor Risk Factor Red MeatNutrition

Minor Risk Factor Refined grainsNutrition

Minor Risk Factor AlcoholBeverage

Possible outcomes of Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction - ACS)

Minor Risk Factor DeliriumBrain system

Related to Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction - ACS)

Cardiovascular DiseaseCardiovascular

Atrial FibrillationCardiovascular

Congestive Heart FailureCardiovascular

Coronary Heart Disease (I...Cardiovascular

LDLLymphatic

Premature ventricular con...Cardiovascular

StrokeBrain

ThrombosisCardiovascular

Protective Factor Moderate Exercise
Selfcare

Protective Factor Red Yeast Rice
Nutrition

Protective Factor Fish & SeaFood rich in...
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Nuts & Peanuts
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Fruits
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Whole grains
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Red Wine
Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Olive oil
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Pets
Selfcare

Minor Protective Factor Vegetables
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Spinach
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Cacao
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Soy
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Bananas
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Broccoli
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Yoghurt
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Mediterranean diet
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Coffee (Caffeine)
Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Meat & Foods rich in B...
Nutrition

Strong Risk Factor Smoking
Contaminant

Strong Risk Factor Sedentary Lifestyle
Selfcare

Strong Risk Factor Learning Disability
Brain system

Risk Factor Lead Exposure
Contaminant

Risk Factor Trimethylamine N-oxid...
Digestive system

Risk Factor Chronic kidney disease
Urinary system

Risk Factor Mercury
Contaminant

Risk Factor Herpes Zoster
Intergumentary system

Risk Factor Marital stress
Selfcare

Risk Factor Anxiety
Brain system

Risk Factor Processed Meat
Nutrition

Risk Factor Irritability And Anger
Brain system

Risk Factor Marijuana
Herb

Minor Risk Factor PM25 Outdoor Air Pollu...
Contaminant

Minor Protective Factor Amygdalar activity
Brain system

Minor Risk Factor Passive Entertainment ...
Selfcare

Minor Risk Factor Contraceptive pills
Manufactured

Minor Risk Factor Heart Rate
Cardiovascular system

Minor Risk Factor Saturated Fat
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Red Meat
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Refined grains
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Alcohol
Beverage

Minor Risk Factor Delirium
Brain system

Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular

Atrial Fibrillation
Cardiovascular

Congestive Heart Failure
Cardiovascular

Coronary Heart Disease (I...
Cardiovascular

LDL
Lymphatic

Premature ventricular con...
Cardiovascular

Stroke
Brain

Thrombosis
Cardiovascular