Some conditions may seem minor, but could be serious if not treated. Calling for emergency medical assistance provides rapid transportation to the hospital where care can be provided upon arrival. This is especially important in a heart attack situation.

Approximately 85 percent of heart muscle damage occurs within the first hour. This is often referred to as the “golden hour.” It is during this timeframe that the heart vessel needs to be opened. The faster the vessel is opened, the greater the benefit to the heart muscle. Of the more than one million Americans who have a heart attack each year, only about half of them survive and many have permanent heart damage because they did not get help right away.

The best way to stop the heart attack process is to recognize symptoms early before damage occurs. If you believe you are having a medical emergency such as a heart attack, call 9-1-1. Ultimately, it’s not the heart attack itself that kills. It’s also the time wasted when trying to decide whether or not to go to the hospital. In many areas, emergency medical services can diagnose a heart attack before arriving at the hospital and initiate early treatment.

To learn more about why it’s important to call 9-1-1, visit the free online health library on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/Call911.

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Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com