A heart attack is not a one-time, one-moment occurrence. It is a process that occurs over a period of a few hours. With each minute that goes by, less oxygen reaches the surrounding heart muscle and the risk of permanent damage rises. Therefore, someone’s chance of surviving a heart attack depends on the treatment that is given within the first hour of the heart attack. The vast majority (about 90 percent) of heart attack patients who reach the hospital alive survive the event.

Immediate treatment for a heart attack should always include professional emergency medical intervention, including a call to 911 if possible. If the person goes into cardiac arrest, immediate death may be avoided if someone on the scene can administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) within the first five minutes following the attack. CPR does not restart a heart in cardiac arrest, but it can keep a victim alive until help arrives. It is important to remember that CPR is not a substitute for emergency paramedic or hospital treatment.

People who believe they are experiencing a heart attack are urged to use an ambulance or friend/family member to take them to the hospital, rather than driving themselves. However, it is also recommended that someone call 911 immediately due to the risk of experiencing a ventricular arrhythmia and having a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

While waiting for help to arrive or on the way to the hospital, patients are often told to begin chewing aspirin, which inhibits blood clots. Aspirin use at the time of a heart attack has been shown to reduce the risk of death and the degree of damage associated with the event.

Information has circulated around the Internet about the use of repeated coughing as an aid during a heart attack. With some life-threatening arrhythmias, which could be caused by a heart attack, frequent, recurrent and vigorous coughing may help to maintain the circulation of the blood and stabilize the heartbeat. Therefore, it may be useful during a heart attack if a patient begins to feel faint and may pass out. However, this would not be helpful in the absence of a life-threatening arrhythmia and should not be routinely used.

Upon arrival at a hospital or other emergency care facility, someone experiencing a heart attack may be given medications to prevent further blood clots and to take the strain off the heart. These medications include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, anticoagulants and nitrates. The patient may also be given medications known as clot busters, the only medications able to dissolve an existing blood clot. Clot busters have been hailed by patients and physicians as somewhat of a miracle drug when given in time and in the right amounts. All clot busters must only be given to carefully selected patients following very specific guidelines.

Treatment for a heart attack may also include one or more procedures to open any blocked coronary arteries, including:

Physicians determine the type of necessary treatment needed based on the patient’s current condition and the underlying cause of his or her heart attack.

After a heart attack, patients typically remain in the hospital for several days. During this time, they are closely monitored for any abnormalities in heartbeat or other functions, as well as for signs of other heart-related trauma (e.g., chest pain or shortness of breath). Additional blood tests are taken to confirm the diagnosis and monitor the patient's progress. Patients will most likely be educated about the need for lifestyle modifications, including the need for a heart-healthy diet, exercise and stress management. These have been shown to lower the risk of additional damage to the heart.

After a few days in the hospital, most patients are sent home if there are no serious after-effects. Specific recovery times vary from patient to patient, but a general guideline is offered for patients whose heart attacks are classified as mild, moderate or severe, based on the amount of damage that was done. This guideline is as follows:

Other after-effects of a heart attack may be emotional in nature. Fear of a future attack, fear of physical activity (including having sex), and even mild or moderate depression are all normal and common feelings following the trauma of a heart attack. Patients are encouraged to discuss their concerns with their physician, and to also discuss their sex-related fears with their spouse/partner. Appropriate treatment and suggestions vary from patient to patient.

Patients are often referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program to help them cope with their physical and emotional concerns. It is important to remember that feelings of anger, depression, resentment and fear are not uncommon. Sharing these concerns with a physician or other trained health professionals (e.g., a therapist) can be a very important step on the road to recovery from a heart attack.

There are a number of medications that a physician may prescribe for someone who has had a heart attack. These medications include:

All four of these types of drugs can safely be taken together, even over the long term. However, the use of multiple medications after a heart attack may not provide additional benefits.