US researchers have found that first heart attacks in US have, of late, become less severe and less fatal; with the adage ‘Prevention is better than cure’ having withstood the test of time, as better preventive measures have reportedly brought about the turnaround!

According to figures released by the government last month, heart disease deaths have fallen 30 percent in the last ten years. The credit for increase in survival rates goes both to the patients as well as their doctors – better preventive efforts and better medical treatments have together contributed their bit towards the ‘healthy’ change.

The study’s author, Dr. Merle Myerson, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, said that though treatment is the key to cure heart ailments, prevention can ‘nip the evil in the bud.’ Myerson said that having understood the risk of heart disease, more Americans are making efforts to prevent it - like keeping their blood pressure and cholesterol in check, eating right, avoiding excessive salt, and cutting down smoking.

However, despite the measures being taken, Myerson’s study draws attention to an area that still need to be improved – that of the patients’ readiness to reach the hospital well within time after feeling chest pain.

Towards this end, Dr. Myerson said: “Clearly this is an area where we need to be more vigilant, where we need to get the message out, that once you feel chest pain or think you might be having a heart attack, call 911 and get to the hospital.”