A heart attack seems like it can sneak up on you out of nowhere—one minute you're jogging, or receive a stressful phone call, and then next you're clutching your chest, gasping for air, asking someone to call 911. The fact that they are so common reinforces this idea—in our country, nearly 805,000 Americans have a heart attack every year, according to the CDC . That's one every 40 seconds, making it the leading killer of men and women. Half who get one die. And half of those die within the first hour of getting symptoms. However, the truth is, many heart attacks can be predicted—and prevented. They don't have to be sudden; you can stop them from even happening (sometimes; there are many factors involved, including genetics). How? Knowing the number one cause of a heart attack can help. Read on for the #1 cause of a heart attack, and how you can tell if you're getting one—and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You Have "Long" COVID