Heart attacks are medical emergencies. Anyone who might be having a heart attack should get to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible, because the sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should only be given if the person having the heart attack has gone into cardiac arrest - that is, if their heart has stopped beating and they've become unconscious. The same holds true for using an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on the patient.

A single aspirin tablet should be chewed by the patient while waiting for help to arrive. Aspirin inhibits blood clotting, helping maintain blood flow.

More on this topic

Understanding Heart Attacks (VIDEO)
Your Heart Needs Blood
Your Beating Heart
Atherosclerosis & Cholesterol
Angina & Coronary Heart Disease
Heart Attack Symptoms
What Is a Heart Attack?
Risk Factors & Diagnosis
Treating Heart Attacks
Restoring Blood Flow
Rehabilitation

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