Diagnosis is most often made in the emergency room. The doctor will usually do a test called an EKG to study heart waves. Blood tests may also be done to help determine if the person is having or has had a heart attack. It is important for anyone suffering from chest pain to seek immediate medical help. The average person in the United States waits longer than 3 hours before seeking help for a heart attack.
Women usually wait much longer than men.
There are many ways to treat heart attacks, but many of these treatments must be administered within the first 6 hours after the chest pain has begun. The sooner a person gets to the emergency room, the better the chances are of surviving and reducing damage to the heart. It is also important to note that many people do not want to believe that they are having a heart attack. They often deny that the pain they are suffering is a symptom of a heart attack. There is a need to recognize that many men describe their pain as more intense and seek medical care much sooner than women.