8 things to do right after a heart attack
After calling 911, taking these steps may help you to survive and recover.
Jan, 2026
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More than 800,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most events aren’t fatal, and the chance of survival increases—and the risk of complications decreases—if you get to a hospital as soon as possible.
If you think you’re having a heart attack, always call 911 first. Then, it’s important to take certain steps in the first minutes, hours and days following the attack. They can help you survive and recover, says Kristofer Hillegas, DO, a cardiologist in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Written byPatrick Sullivan.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Facts and Statistics. October 24 + 22
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Facts and Statistics. October 24, 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Heart Attack. October 24, 2024.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart Attack Symptoms. March 24, 2022.
- American Heart Association. Heart Attack Symptoms in Women. December 13, 2024.
- American Heart Association. Warning Signs of a Heart Attack. December 12, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic. Heart Attack Symptoms and Causes. October 9, 2023.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Understanding the Stress Response. April 3, 2024.
- Suzanna Mazur. What To Do If You Have a Heart Attack Alone. Henry Ford Health. July 7, 2025.
- My Vanderbilt Health. How to Survive a Heart Attack When Alone. July 18, 2025.
- Rao SV, O'Donoghue ML, et al. 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2025 Apr;151(13):e771-e862.
- American Heart Association. Aspirin and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy. February 28, 2025.
- Paikin JS, Eikelboom JW. Cardiology patient page: Aspirin. Circulation. 2012 Mar 13;125(10):e439-42.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart Attack Causes and Risk Factors. March 24, 2022.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Does Aspirin Stop a Heart Attack? October 13, 2020.
- American Heart Association. Family History, Heart Disease and Stroke. January 11, 2024.
- American Heart Association. Life After a Heart Attack. December 20, 2024.
- American Heart Association. Heart Attack Recovery Questions and Answers. January 2, 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic. Medications after a Heart Attack or Interventional Procedure. Accessed January 19, 2026.
- American Heart Association. Types of Heart Medications. Febryary 27, 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic. Exercise & Activity After a Heart Attack. Accessed January 19, 2026.
- FamilyDoctor.org. Heart Attack. October 1, 2023.
- American Heart Association. Lifestyle Changes to Prevent a Heart Attack. January 2, 2025.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Preventing Heart Disease. August 2022.
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