A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can’t get oxygen. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary heart disease (CHD). Macomb County continues to have a higher incidence and mortality for heart disease compared to the State of Michigan and Healthy People 2020. Heart disease is one of four chronic diseases that cause 50% of deaths in Macomb County.

The major risk factors for developing coronary heart disease and having a heart attack include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high blood sugar (due to insulin resistance or diabetes), obesity, poor diet, and lack of routine physical activity. Risk of having a heart attack may also increase based on age, family history, or preeclampsia (a condition developed during pregnancy). 

In order to prevent your risk of CHD and heart attack, maintain a healthy weight, engage in routine physical activity, eat heart-healthy foods, refrain from smoking, and manage stress levels.

The Macomb County Health Department has identified chronic diseases and healthy lifestyles as a priority in the 2017 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) after reviewing quantitative and qualitative data in the Community Health Assessment (CHA). You can read more about the CHA and the corresponding CHIP on the Community Health Assessment resource page.

We aim to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like coronary heart disease in the county by reducing the proportion of Macomb County adults who engage in no leisure time physical activity, by reducing the proportion of adults who are considered overweight or obese, and by increasing the consumption of daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables for children, adolescents, and adults in Macomb County. 

Healthy Kids Healthy Futures

Macomb Partners in Health

MOTION Coalition

HealthStyles of Macomb County