Frequently Asked Questions - Heart Attacks

Q: Why is it so important to treat a heart attack as quickly as possible?

A: Quick treatment to open the blocked artery is essential to lessen the amount of damage from a heart attack. At the first signs of a heart attack, call for emergency treatment (usually 911). The best time to treat a heart attack is within one to two hours of the first onset of symptoms. Waiting longer than that increases the damage to your heart and reduces your chance of survival. (Source: Web MD)

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Q: What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

A: Although chest pain or pressure is the most common symptom of a heart attack, heart attack victims may experience a variety of symptoms including: Pain, fullness, and/or squeezing sensation of the chest; Jaw pain, toothache, headache; Shortness of breath; Nausea, vomiting , and/or general epigastric (upper middle abdomen) discomfort; Sweating; Heartburn and/or indigestion; Arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either arm); Upper back pain; General malaise (vague feeling of illness) ; No symptoms (Approximately one quarter of all heart attacks are silent, without chest pain or new symptoms. Silent heart attacks are especially common among patients with diabetes mellitus .) (Source: Medicine Net.com)

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Q: What causes most heart attacks?

A: Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. If the blood flow is blocked, the heart starves for oxygen and heart cells die. (Source: MedlinePlus)

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Q: How common are heart attacks and how survivable are they?

A: Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About 460,000 of those heart attacks are fatal. About half of those deaths occur within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before the person reaches the hospital. (Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute)

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Q: Why do I need a lawyer after a late heart attack treatment?

A: You need a lawyer:

1. to protect the rights of you and your loved one
2. to make sure your specific situation is investigated to the fullest
3. to hold accountable anyone whose negligence led to the late diagnosis and treatment of your heart attack
4. to help you get the compensation you need to get your life back on track as quickly as possible.