I have often wondered about what causes a heart attack. There is a lot of information out there but we seldom connect the dots.

Atherosclerosis (hardening of artery due to plaque) is a form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of artery) and is one cause of heart attacks. 

From what I have read, the main contributors to atherosclerosis could  be:  diet, smoking, exercise, stress mgmt  and genes.

Genes are difficult to overcome but knowing about them does prepare us.

The other factors are ALWAYS within our control.

Better to be educated than surprised ...or worse!

The exact cause of atherosclerosis, in addition to natural aging,  is not known (surprise, surprise) but here are some details that might help you:  

Manageable Causes - smoking, cholesterol, triglycerides, hypertension, obesity, diabeties

Unmanageable Causes - accidental artery damage, chronic inflammation, genes, aging  

Prevention - reduction of causes you can control ... and don't get old 

Detection - If you suspect you (or someone you know) may be affected, ask your doctor if one of these might be appropriate: echocardiogram,  electrocardiogram, or coronary angiography.