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Heart attack first aid

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Definition:

A heart attack is a medical emergency.

The average person waits 3 hours before seeking help for symptoms of a heart attack. Many heart attack victims die before they reach a hospital. The sooner someone gets to the emergency room, the better the chance of survival. Prompt medical treatment also reduces the amount of damage done to the heart following an attack.

Alternative Names:

First aid - heart attack; First aid - cardiopulmonary arrest; First aid - cardiac arrest

Considerations:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America today.

Causes:

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 for more specific causes.

• Review Date: 6/8/2006
• Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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