Since the advent of thrombolytic therapy, early treatment holds particular promise for decreasing mortality from coronary heart disease. Thrombolytic therapy can reduce mortality by 25 percent for patients treated within the first few hours of AMI symptoms, with greater benefit the earlier the treatment. Not everyone who could benefit from receiving thrombolytic therapy receives such therapy. One contributing factor is that many people with symptoms do not seek emergency care in a timely manner. Studies show substantial delay times from AMI symptoms to hospital arrival, with means ranging from 4.6 to 24 hours and medians from 2 to 6.4 hours. EMS transport time is estimated to average 7 to 22 minutes, so a large portion of pre-hospital delay is attributable to patient recognition and action. Several factors have been associated with delay time. Sudden onset pain is associated with shorter delay times, and older age, female gender, African-American race, consultation with others about symptoms, and self-treatment programs are associated with longer delay times. There is a need for educational programs that are effective in decreasing delay times, particularly by focusing on people who are at increased risk of having an AMI and groups more likely to delay seeking treatment.