Cindy Richards, the editor of BC/BSIL LifeTimes shared that every 43 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, the majority of them for the first time; 117,000 of those people will die as a result.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Your chances of surviving a heart attack increase if you can be treated as quickly as possible, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, in a 2005 survey, most people recognized only one symptom – chest pain – as a sign of a heart attack. Just 27 percent were aware of all of the potential symptoms.

A heart attack occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of the heart is cut off. If the blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the heart muscle begins to die, leading to coronary heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in American men and women.

According to the National Heart Attack Alert Program, you should call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone near you is experiencing:

• Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort.
• Other symptoms. These can include light-headedness, breaking out in a cold sweat, or nausea.

The American Heart Association notes that chest pain or discomfort is the most common sign of a heart attack in both men and women. However, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience more subtle symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you are having any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away. “Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms),” says the AHA. “Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives – maybe your own.”

Get heart-healthy

The best way to survive a heart attack is never to have one in the first place. Key risk factors for heart disease are high cholesterol (which can clog arteries), high blood pressure, and smoking. In addition, having diabetes, being overweight, eating poorly, drinking too much alcohol, and being sedentary can contribute to heart disease.

These are some ways to protect your heart:

• Follow your doctor’s advice and take your medications as directed
• Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt; low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, and rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Take a brisk 10-minute walk three times a day, five days a week.
• Quit smoking. Now.

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