A heart attack occurs when blood flow through one of the coronary arteries is suddenly blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching the heart muscle. The longer the blockage remains untreated, the greater the damage.

"Time is muscle," explains Dr. Kumar. "The earlier blood flow is restored, the greater the chances of saving heart muscle, preventing complications, and improving long-term survival." Modern treatments such as emergency angioplasty can reopen blocked arteries, but their success depends heavily on how quickly the patient reaches a hospital.

Many people mistakenly believe that a heart attack always causes crushing chest pain. In reality, symptoms can vary significantly. A few common warning signs include:

These groups may experience less typical symptoms such as:

“If you suspect a heart attack, don't wait to see if the symptoms disappear,” said Dr. Kumar, recommending the following steps:

Do not delay by hoping the discomfort will pass.

A semi-reclined position reduces strain on the heart and helps ease breathing.

Anxiety increases the heart's workload.

This can make breathing easier.

People who already have angina should take nitroglycerin exactly as prescribed by their doctor.

If the person is conscious, has no aspirin allergy and no history of significant bleeding, chewing one standard aspirin may help reduce clot formation. However, aspirin should never delay calling an ambulance or getting to the hospital.

Many people confuse a heart attack with a cardiac arrest, but they are medical emergencies requiring different responses.

In a heart attack, the muscles in your heart would lose blood supply; however, the person would usually remain conscious and can speak or respond.

However, in a cardiac arrest, the heart would suddenly stop pumping effectively, and the person would collapse, become unresponsive, and can even stop breathing normally.

If someone goes into cardiac arrest, call emergency medical services immediately. Begin CPR if you are trained and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as soon as one is available. Early CPR and defibrillation dramatically improve survival.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is driving themselves - or asking a family member to drive them - to the hospital. A person's condition can suddenly worsen during the journey. “This can be dangerous because the person's condition can worsen suddenly during the journey. An ambulance is the safest option, as trained medical personnel can start treatment immediately, monitor the heart rhythm, and alert the hospital in advance so that the cardiac team is ready on arrival,” said Dr. Kumar.

Dr. Kumar warns against several dangerous misconceptions. A few things that do not treat a heart attack include drinking water, coffee, lemon juice, home remedies, walking to "ease the pain", waiting to see if symptoms improve, or forcing yourself to cough. These actions waste valuable time while heart muscle continues to die.

However, the good news is that heart attacks are highly treatable when treated quickly. Emergency procedures such as primary angioplasty can restore blood flow, minimise heart damage and greatly improve recovery. "The decisions made during the first few minutes can protect the heart, reduce long-term complications and, in many cases, save a life," says Dr. Kumar. A heart attack is a medical emergency where every minute matters. Recognising the symptoms early, calling an ambulance immediately, avoiding dangerous home remedies and reaching a hospital equipped for emergency cardiac care can dramatically improve survival.