Treatments for Heart Attacks

Traditional Heart Attack Treatments

• cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  
  
• automated external defibrillator (AED)
  
  
• cardiac drugs
  
  
• insertion of endotracheal breathing tubes
  
  
• reperfusion therapy includes drugs that dissolve clots, balloon angioplasty, or surgery
  
  
• thrombolysis is a procedure that involves an injection of a clot-dissolving agent such as streptokinase, urokinase, or tissue plasminogen activator
  
  
• percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Alternative Heart Attack Treatments

• lifestyle changes must be made to prevent future heart attacks:
  • if you smoke, quit
    
    
  • limit alcohol comsumption
    
    
  • lose weight, if overweight
    
    
  • exercise regularly
    
    
  • eat a heart-healthy diet
    

Always keep aspirin in your medicine cabinet, and take an aspirin the moment you feel you may be having a heart attack. This can significantly increase your chance of surviving a heart attack should your symptoms be diagnosed as a heart attack. You should always call 911 for emergency assistance immediately upon experiencing the symptoms of heart attack.

What are the symptoms of heart attack?

Visit our Women's Health Symptoms Guide Index for more information about heart attacks and other women's health conditions.

Learn More

• Eating for a Healthy Heart
• Facts About Heart Disease and Women - Are you at risk?
• Heart Disease Resource Center

Return to ourWomen's Health Treatments Guide

Remember it is always your choice to seek a second opinion if you are uncomfortable or have any unanswered questions about the treatment recommended by your health care provider.