Maine has one of the highest rates of people who say they have suffered a heart attack, according to a new Gallup-Healthways poll.
More than 5 percent of Maine respondents said that they had a heart attack at some point in their life, putting the state among the worst in the country by that measure.
Only nine other states fared worse than Maine, including Vermont and Rhode Island. West Virginia ranked 50th, which is the worst.
The states that reported the lowest rates of heart attacks were Utah, Hawaii, California and Alaska, respectively.
Here’s what those data look like on a map. The lighter states have the higher number of reports of heart attacks.
Nationally, the number of people who say they have had a heart attack has declined — from 4.5 percent in 2008 to 3.9 percent in 2014.
The analysis includes rankings on other chronic conditions, like obesity, high blood pressure and depression.
A previous report found that Maine ranks 14th in the country for obesity.
The latest data are part of a series that aims to analyze “well-being” across the states.
Maine in general was rated in 2014 as the 15th-best state by well-being, which was arrived at through 2.1 million surveys attempting to quantify elements like sense of purpose, social relationships, financial security, relationship to community and physical health.
Heart attacks are an indicator for well-being, Gallup said.
“[T]hose who have had a heart attack also have higher rates of obesity, are much more likely to currently or have had high blood pressure, are more likely to smoke, and are less likely to exercise,” according to the report. “People with a history of heart attack are also less likely to like what they do each day, less active and productive every day, and twice as likely to have at least two days each month where poor health prevents normal activities.”
