Get answers to your heart disease prevention questions. First
aid - heart attack; First aid - cardiopulmonary arrest; First
aid - cardiac arrest A heart attack is a medical emergency. Call
911 or your local emergency number if you think you or someone
else is having a heart attack. The average person waits 3 hours
before seeking help for symptoms of a heart attack. Many heart
attack patients die before they reach a hospital. The sooner the
person gets to the emergency room, the better the chance of
survival. Prompt medical treatment reduces the amount of heart
damage. This article discusses what to do if you think someone
may be having a heart attack. For more information on the
condition itself, see: Heart attack. A heart attack occurs when
the blood flow that carries oxygen to the heart is blocked. The
heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen and begins to die. See:
Heart attack Symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to
person. They may be mild or severe. Women, the elderly, and
people with diabetes