Experiencing a heart attack can be a terrifying experience for the victim as well as his or her family.
Heart attacks often strike suddenly with little warning, leaving little time to react.
It can be easy to panic after seeing a loved one collapse or suddenly show signs of pain.
However, the few minutes after an attack are some of the most crucial to the victim's long term well being and survival.
Staying alert and ready to respond in case of an emergency could save your or your loved one's life.
What to Do Immediately After an Attack If you notice any of the warning signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, arm pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness, seek emergency medical assistance immediately by dialing 911.
Take a dose of aspirin immediately after the attack to help increase blood flow.
Sometimes after a heart attack the patient may go into cardiac arrest, meaning that his or her heart stops beating.
If this happens, have an experienced individual administer CPR as soon as possible.
Defibrillators may also be used and can be invaluable to restarting a failed heart.
If the heart is stopped too long, the brain stops receiving the blood it needs and severe brain damage could result.
Sometimes heart attacks do not happen suddenly but instead are more mild and gradual.
These attacks can be just as severe and may be even more dangerous because patients may not realize that they are having a heart attack.
Even if you are not sure that you have suffered an attack, seek medical attention immediately.
It is better to mistakenly make a visit to the hospital than to suffer life-threatening or life-ending injuries because you hesitated to seek assistance.
Determining the Cause Some people are more at risk of experiencing a heart attack than others.
Once you have been treated and are in stable condition, talk with your doctor about the potential causes and what you can do to prevent a second attack.
If you are taking medications, fully disclose all of the prescriptions that you are currently taking.
Some drugs or combinations of drugs can have a harmful affect on a patient and may increase your risk of a serious health complication.
If you or your doctor suspect that your heart failure was caused by a medication, consider contacting a side effect attorney immediately to discuss your options to pursue legal action.
For More Information
Heart attacks often strike suddenly with little warning, leaving little time to react.
It can be easy to panic after seeing a loved one collapse or suddenly show signs of pain.
However, the few minutes after an attack are some of the most crucial to the victim's long term well being and survival.
Staying alert and ready to respond in case of an emergency could save your or your loved one's life.
What to Do Immediately After an Attack If you notice any of the warning signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, arm pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness, seek emergency medical assistance immediately by dialing 911.
Take a dose of aspirin immediately after the attack to help increase blood flow.
Sometimes after a heart attack the patient may go into cardiac arrest, meaning that his or her heart stops beating.
If this happens, have an experienced individual administer CPR as soon as possible.
Defibrillators may also be used and can be invaluable to restarting a failed heart.
If the heart is stopped too long, the brain stops receiving the blood it needs and severe brain damage could result.
Sometimes heart attacks do not happen suddenly but instead are more mild and gradual.
These attacks can be just as severe and may be even more dangerous because patients may not realize that they are having a heart attack.
Even if you are not sure that you have suffered an attack, seek medical attention immediately.
It is better to mistakenly make a visit to the hospital than to suffer life-threatening or life-ending injuries because you hesitated to seek assistance.
Determining the Cause Some people are more at risk of experiencing a heart attack than others.
Once you have been treated and are in stable condition, talk with your doctor about the potential causes and what you can do to prevent a second attack.
If you are taking medications, fully disclose all of the prescriptions that you are currently taking.
Some drugs or combinations of drugs can have a harmful affect on a patient and may increase your risk of a serious health complication.
If you or your doctor suspect that your heart failure was caused by a medication, consider contacting a side effect attorney immediately to discuss your options to pursue legal action.
For More Information