Study: Most first-time heart attacks could be prevented

[KARE-TV, November 15, 2010] A new collaborative study between the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Heart Institute suggests most first time heart attacks could be prevented.

The study found that roughly 70 percent of people who suffered a first heart attack had no idea they were at risk. Of those patients, very few were actually taking a preventative medicine like aspirin or a cholesterol drug.

"If these people had taken aspirin, our study suggests that a quarter of them would not have had a heart attack," said Dr. Kevin Graham with Minneapolis Heart Institute.