What to Do in Case of a Heart Attack?
Heart attack symptoms should always prompt an ambulance call. Here's what to do in the meantime, hoping it won't be necessary.
If you suddenly feel severe pain in the center of your chest or any other symptom of a heart attack, the first step is, of course, to call an ambulance. But what should you do meanwhile to reduce the risk? If you are already diagnosed with heart disease, you likely have instructions and medication to handle this situation. For everyone else, here's the recommended protocol—may we never need it.
Firstly, if you have aspirin at home, take a pill and chew on it – it works faster this way than if swallowed. Aspirin prevents blood clots from forming and can stop the heart attack from occurring.
Lie down in bed with your head and shoulders slightly elevated (on a pillow, for example).
Try to breathe deeply – this helps oxygen supply to the lungs and blood flow.
Important: All these steps should be performed only after calling an ambulance! Except in the case of a known heart patient, where you should follow the doctor's instructions, suspicious symptoms of a heart attack are always a reason to head straight to the emergency room: do not wait and see if the symptoms pass on their own!
