How to Survive a Heart Attack

How to Survive a Heart Attack: 5 Essential Steps

The main cause of death in the US is heart disease. Get emergency preparedness training.

Heart attacks are the top cause of mortality in the US, occurring every 40 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's crucial to know what to do in response to one. In the event of the unthinkable occurring, there are actions you may take to increase your chances of survival and perhaps even save a life.

Here's how to prevent a heart attack or aid a person who is experiencing one. Learn how to check your heart measurements at home and get CNET's picks for the top heart rate monitors for additional health advice. You should also learn about your blood type, one of the most crucial aspects of your health.

Typical signs of a heart attack

Classic signs of a heart attack, such tightness in the chest, may initially come to mind. Yet, men and women may have heart attacks in various ways, as can those who have specific illnesses like diabetes.

The following are possible signs of a heart attack:

• Chest tightness, pain, or pressure that extends to your jaw, back, or left shoulder;

• Poor digestion or nausea;

• Severe exhaustion;

• Shortness of breath;

• Feeling generally ill.

Dr. Khadijah Breathett, a cardiologist who specializes in heart failure transplantation and a tenured associate professor of medicine at Indiana University, explains that "almost anything from the belly button up" is included in this. Persistent pressure should cause you to seek medical attention, but it's alright if it's something else.

5 Essential Steps

1. Make a 911 call immediately.

Call 911 right away if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, physicians advise.

The sooner you receive treatment, the better, advises Dr. Grant Reed, an interventional cardiologist and the director of Cleveland Clinic's STEMI program, if you feel unwell or you start to have chest discomfort. Many people ignore their symptoms, and by the time they visit the doctor, the heart muscle has already stopped beating.

How quickly you notice your symptoms is the number one predictor of how well you'll recover from a heart attack, says Reed. There is a significant correlation between the onset of a heart attack (which

2. Request a ride in an ambulance to the hospital.

Call an ambulance instead of driving yourself to the hospital if you think you are suffering a heart attack. According to Dr. Joel Beachey, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, you could pass out on the road and damage yourself or other drivers. The same is true if you let a family member or friend drive you; if your symptoms get worse, they won't be able to assist you while they're behind the wheel and might be disoriented.

According to Beachey, paramedics may provide you an evaluation and some treatment while you're en route to the hospital and do it in the best possible time.

Call 911 first if someone you're with starts to have heart attack symptoms and loses consciousness.

3. If you have aspirin, take it.

If you have access to aspirin and are experiencing heart attack symptoms, Beachey advises taking the entire 325 mg after dialing 911. Take four of the 81 mg baby aspirin that you have if you have it. He advises chewing it rather than swallowing it to ensure that it enters your system more quickly.

The cause? A plaque in your arteries that is unstable and ruptures during a heart attack can cut off blood flow to that artery by forming a blood clot. A portion of that blood clot may be broken down with the aid of aspirin.

4. Make yourself an advocate

Studies reveal that women and people of color are less likely to receive sufficient treatment for heart attacks and heart disease, even though in an ideal world, healthcare professionals would take all patient concerns regarding heart attack symptoms carefully. A 2019 study found that older Black women were 50% less likely than white women to be treated when they presented to a hospital with symptoms of a heart attack or coronary artery disease, even after taking into account education, income, insurance status, and other heart health complications like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Women and people of color have not been heard over the majority of US history, according to Breathett. "Their signs are discounted, and

By asking the doctor to clarify why they've ruled out a heart attack and what else it could be, you're effectively asking for a differential diagnosis, which is a term used to describe the various conditions that could be causing your symptoms. That could make a person recognize that they haven't thoroughly ruled out cardiac problems, according to Breathett.

You are welcome to bring over a relative or friend to answer queries on your behalf. If you can, prepare questions in advance so you can ask them during your brief visit. And if you have any other questions, contact back. Go for a different care team if you're dissatisfied or believe your concerns aren't being heard.

5. Concentrate on preventive

The best approach to prevent a heart attack is to maintain a balanced diet, engage in moderate exercise for 120 to 150 minutes each week, regulate your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, quit smoking, and do all of the above. You've probably heard this advice a million times, but it's real.

Anybody, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender, can experience a heart attack. To determine your risk, you should have routine physicals with your primary care physician. You should also make adjustments to your lifestyle that can aid in prevention. You'll need to speak with your healthcare professional about whether or not you should take a baby aspirin daily as a preventative step for yourself.

Even if you have a history of cardiac issues, Beachey says that exercise is still crucial.