Deaths from heart attacks are way down. Here’s what’s killing us instead
How science, medicine, and public awareness have helped millions live longer, healthier lives
Not too long ago, having a heart attack often meant a death sentence. Back in the 1960s and ’70s, heart disease was the leading cause of death in the U.S., with survival rates shockingly low. But today, thanks to massive medical progress, lifestyle changes, and early detection, your chances of surviving — or avoiding — a heart attack have dramatically improved.
A Personal Wake-Up Call
Just before his 47th birthday, journalist Bryan Walsh decided to get a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan — a type of CT scan that checks for calcium buildup in your heart’s arteries. This calcium is actually a warning sign of plaque, which can block blood flow and lead to heart disease.
Walsh’s score was low — a 7 — which meant some risk, but not immediate danger. Still, it was enough for his doctor to put him on a statin, a cholesterol-lowering drug that’s become a game-changer in preventing heart issues. And that experience got him thinking about how far we’ve come in the fight against heart disease.
Heart Attacks: Once a Death Sentence, Now Often Survivable
In the early 1970s, if a man over 65 had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital, there was only a 60% chance he’d survive. Today, that number is over 90%.
A study published by the Journal of the American Heart Association found that between 1970 and 2022, heart attack-related deaths in the U.S. dropped by nearly 90%. In fact, the overall death rate from heart disease fell from 41% of adult deaths to just 24% during that period.
How Did We Get Here?
Several major changes helped turn the tide:
- Fewer Smokers: After a groundbreaking 1964 report from the Surgeon General, smoking rates began to fall. In 1970, about 40% of Americans smoked. By 2019, that number was down to 14%, and it’s still dropping.
- Statins: First introduced in the 1980s, statins help control LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. They’re estimated to save about 2 million lives worldwide each year.
- Emergency Tools: The rise of CPR training and portable defibrillators (AEDs), starting in the late 1960s, helped more people survive heart attacks long enough to get proper care.
- Advanced Treatment: Hospitals now have coronary care units, balloon angioplasty, and artery-opening stents to treat heart attacks quickly and effectively.
We’re Not Done Yet
Despite these breakthroughs, heart disease still kills around 700,000 Americans every year — that’s about 1 in 5 deaths.
There are new challenges. While fewer people smoke, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and sedentary lifestyles are on the rise. People are living longer, but that also means more time for chronic heart issues to develop.
Some newer treatments show promise. For example, GLP-1 inhibitors like Ozempic, originally used for diabetes and weight loss, may also lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. One study showed a 20% reduction in cardiovascular risk for overweight patients using GLP-1 drugs for three years.
What More Can Be Done?
- More Statins: Millions of Americans — especially women, minorities, and rural residents — could benefit from cholesterol-lowering drugs but aren’t getting them.
- More Screenings: Only about 1.5 million Americans got a CAC scan in 2017, even though more than 30 million are likely good candidates for it.
The Bottom Line
We’ve made huge progress in the fight against heart disease, cutting heart attack deaths by 90% over the past 50 years. But to keep that momentum going, we need to stay ahead with better prevention, wider access to treatment, and healthier lifestyles. Because the best outcome isn’t just surviving a heart attack — it’s never having one in the first place.
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