Can a heart attack be stopped while it's happening?

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle. Immediate medical attention is crucial to improve outcomes. Here are steps and interventions that can be taken to address a heart attack while it is happening:

• Call Emergency Services: The first and most important step is to call emergency services (911 in the United States or your local emergency number) immediately.

• Administer Aspirin: If the person is not allergic to aspirin and is able to chew and swallow, chewing an aspirin (usually 325 mg) can help by reducing blood clotting and improving blood flow.

• Nitroglycerin: If prescribed, the person can take nitroglycerin as directed to help open up the coronary arteries.

• CPR and AED: If the person collapses and is unresponsive, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available and if the person is in cardiac arrest.

Once medical help arrives, advanced treatments are administered, which may include:

• Medications: Emergency medical personnel might administer clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics), antiplatelet agents, blood thinners, or pain relievers.

• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Often referred to as angioplasty, this procedure involves threading a catheter with a balloon through a blood vessel to the blocked artery, inflating the balloon to open the artery, and sometimes placing a stent to keep the artery open.

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): In more severe cases, surgery might be needed to create a bypass around the blocked artery using a vessel from another part of the body.

While these measures can significantly improve the chances of survival and minimize damage, the best outcomes are achieved when treatment begins as quickly as possible. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack—such as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in the arm, jaw, or back—and seeking immediate help is critical.