WORCESTER, Mass. - The family of former Vice President Dick Cheney said he passed away Monday, November 3rd of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Cheney was 84. 

Cheney battled a long history of heart problems, having his first of five heart attacks while he was just 37 years old. It's a trend some say is worsening across the country. UMass Memorial Health's Dr. Jeffrey Shih, a cardiologist, says over the last 10 to 20 years, there's been an alarming trend where people have started having heart attacks at earlier ages. 

Shih says smoking is one of the largest contributing factors to heart attacks, saying the former VP began smoking at only 12 years old. 

Cheney would go on to have a left ventricular assist device implanted in 2010, followed by a heart transplant in 2012. 

"Heart transplant survival at ten years is about 53% or so," said Shih. "And for LVAD, it's probably less than 50% for the newer generation devices. They've really only been in existence for that, has only been in existence for about ten years. We don't know if that will be so much for transplant. The goal has always been to get patients to transplants if they're a candidate for that. That has always been thought to be the best therapy."

Cheney is remembered as one of the most polarizing vice presidents in American history. In light of the former vice president's passing, Dr. Shih recommends everyone do their best to live the healthiest lifestyle. He says heart issues can in fact be genetic. But, there are preventative measures which can be taken.

"Always live a healthy lifestyle, but diet, exercise," said Shih. "But I think the big factor is substance use, whether it's legal substances like cigarettes or marijuana or illegal substances. And then obesity has really become an epidemic in the U.S. and that is related to nutrition and lack of exercise as well. So maintaining a healthy body weight, falling with your primary care doctor and controlling those risk factors that can help prevent heart attacks are really the way to go."

Dr. Shih says heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, saying there's a heart attack in the country every 40 seconds. 

Cheney will be laid to rest Thursday, November 20.