There are approximately a half million deaths a year from heart attacks, half of which are before they even arrive at the hospital. These heart attacks are generally from a blockage in an artery or vein, like a clot or plaque buildup. Heart attacks are not a sudden occurrence, but are built up over a 4 to 6 hour period of time. Usually you will start to get symptoms before you realize that you could indeed be having a heart attack.Heart attack warning signs, as designed by the AHA or American Heart Association are as follows:1) pressure or a squeezing feeling in the chest or around the heart that last more than a few minutes, many times feeling like "heartburn" or indigestion2) pain that moves to the shoulders, neck, or the arms3) fainting, dizziness, shortness of breath, and nausea. There may be sweating as well or a feeling of lightheadedness. There are different ways to try to prevent heart attacks without prescription drugs. Many take a baby aspirin a day to thin the blood and prevent heart attacks; however they may not understand how Omega 3 fatty acids can help in the prevention of heart attacks. Omega 3 fatty acids do three things specific to heart function, but have other benefits as well.Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to human health but aren't manufactured in the body. This means that one needs to eat or otherwise consume it to use it, usually via supplements or by eating foods rich in Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids do many things, such as:1) reduces inflammation2) lowers blood pressure3) slows plaque growthPlaque is a mix of fatty substances that will get into and inflame artery walls. It is this plaque buildup that can also close off an artery or vein just by the buildup. When these clusters of plaque burst they send clots throughout the body. These clots can contribute to heart attacks and strokes.To get Omega 3 fatty acids you can eat salmon or other oily cold water fish twice a week or you can take EPA / DHA supplements (850-1,000 mg a day). EPA / DHA supplements are essential fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Both ways are equally effective to get your beneficial affects of Omega 3 fatty acid and will reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.