Number two. That’s where the Quad Cities ranks on a list of cities with the most heart attacks.
The Gallup-Healthways annual well-being study found some metropolitan regions have higher rates of heart attacks than others. 24/7 Wall St. looked at the cities and reviewed the percentage of people who had heart attacks, the number of people who were obese and smoked, and even looked at income to determine the rankings.
"This is very concerning public health news,” said Dr. Sanjeev Puri, a cardiologist at Unity Point Health Trinity in Rock Island.
The news, that the Quad Cities ranks second in the nation for most heart attacks in the country, caught Dr. Puri a little off guard.
"It surprised the whole cardiology community,” he said.
The Gallup-Healthways annual well-being study found that 6.7% of people living in the Quad Cities have reported having a heart attack.
"We do not know exactly what data this is based, but still very concerning,” said Dr. Puri.
"This study just reconfirms some of the areas we need to work in the community and the nation,” said Kate Cuellar, Regional Director of the American Heart Association.
Researchers also found that 26.3% of Quad City residents are obese and 21% of people smoke, that’s about 2% higher than the national average.
"Some of the things that we can easily prevent like smoking and stress and a better diet are things that our community does need to work on,” said Cuellar.
Individual issues that Dr. Puri says the entire community needs to address.
“We should not dismiss and blow this off. This is alarming news and we need to take it seriously and develop a community based plan,” said Dr. Puri.
Because ranking second in this category, is not a ranking doctors want to see again.
"Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women,” said Cuellar.
"So this is a big challenge and hopefully in a couple of years we'll be sitting here and have better news that we can have less number of heart attacks,” said Dr. Puri.
The area that comes in number one for heart attacks is Huntington-Ashland, which is in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
UnitedPoint Health-Trinity has a free online heart disease risk assessment on their website.
My Life Check, from the American Heart Association, can assess individual heart health and help with individual health goals.