Heart Attack First Aid: How to Recognize Symptoms & Act Fast?

What Is the First Thing You Do for a Heart Attack?

The first step in providing first aid for chest pain or a suspected heart attack is recognizing the warning signs. While symptoms can vary, some common indicators include:

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort: This is the hallmark symptom. The pain might feel like pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest. It can last for several minutes or come and go. [3]

2. Radiating Pain: The discomfort may spread to the arms (typically the left), neck, jaw, back, or stomach.

3. Shortness of Breath: This can occur with or without chest pain and is a critical warning sign.

4. Nausea, Vomiting, or Lightheadedness: These symptoms are often mistaken for indigestion or stress.

5. Cold Sweat: Sudden and unexplained sweating is another red flag.

If you or someone else exhibits these symptoms, it’s essential to act immediately.

How to Help Someone Who Has Had a Heart Attack?

When faced with a potential heart attack, staying calm and following these steps can save a life:

1. Call Emergency Services

The first and most crucial step is to call for emergency medical help. Dial your local emergency number and clearly describe the situation. Mention the symptoms, including chest pain and any visible signs of distress.

2. Keep the Person Calm and Still

Encourage the individual to sit down and stay as calm as possible. Stress and movement can worsen the situation. A seated position with the knees slightly bent is ideal, as it eases the strain on the heart. [4]

3. Administer Aspirin

If the person is conscious and not allergic, give them a standard dose (usually 300 mg) of aspirin to chew and swallow. Aspirin helps thin the blood, improving blood flow to the heart. [5]

4. Assist with Nitroglycerin (if prescribed)

If the individual has been prescribed nitroglycerin for heart conditions, help them take it as directed. Do not administer nitroglycerin if it hasn’t been prescribed.

5. Monitor and Reassure

Stay with the person, offering reassurance. Keep an eye on their breathing, consciousness, and overall condition. Look out for signs of deterioration, such as fainting or stopped breathing.

What Is the Basic First Aid for Cardiac Arrest?

Sometimes, a heart attack can escalate into cardiac arrest, where the heart stops beating effectively. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate action. Here’s how to provide first aid for cardiac arrest:

1. Check for Responsiveness

Gently tap the person and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” If there’s no response, proceed to the next step.

2. Call for Help and Get an AED

Call emergency services immediately. If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, ask someone to bring it to you while you start CPR.

3. Begin CPR

Place the person on their back on a firm surface. Kneel beside them and:

• Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, with the other hand on top. Interlock your fingers.

• Push hard and fast, compressing the chest at least 2 inches deep and at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to rise fully between compressions.

4. Use the AED

Once the AED arrives, turn it on and follow the voice prompts. The device will analyze the heart rhythm and advise whether a shock is needed. Ensure no one touches the person during the shock.

5. Continue CPR

If the AED advises no shock or after delivering a shock, resume CPR immediately until emergency responders arrive.

What to Do for Sudden Chest Pain?

Not all chest pain signals a heart attack, but it should never be ignored. Here’s what to do:

1. Assess the Pain: Ask the individual to describe their pain—its location, intensity, and whether it’s accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath or nausea.

2. Encourage Rest: Help the person sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Movement can exacerbate symptoms.

3. Monitor Symptoms: If the pain doesn’t subside after a few minutes of rest or worsens, treat it as a potential heart attack and follow the steps outlined earlier.

4. Avoid Food and Drink: Do not offer anything to eat or drink unless specifically advised by a medical professional.

5. Seek Medical Attention: Even if the chest pain subsides, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any serious conditions.

How to Prevent Heart Attacks?

Knowing what to do first in case of a heart attack is great, but prevention is always the best medicine. Here are some habits that promote good heart health:

1. Adopt a heart-healthy diet: Such a diet avoids diseases and infections in the heart by incorporating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; lean protein; healthy fats; and reduced intake of salt, sugar, and processed foods. [6]

2. Regular exercise: It is recommended to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. Great for cardiovascular fitness, these activities include brisk walking, swimming or cycling. [5]

3. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Extra weight puts additional pressure on the heart, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease. Make lifestyle changes that help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight in an attainable and sustainable manner. [7]

4. Stop Smoking: Tobacco is one of the key factors that cause heart disease. Seek professional help through counselling, nicotine replacement therapy or a stop-smoking program. [8]

5. Control Your Stress: Chronic stress is harmful to heart health. Engage in mindfulness, yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to reduce everyday stress and enhance your mental well-being. [9

6. Avoid drinking too much alcohol: Overconsumption of alcohol is one of the key factors for high blood pressure, and you are at greater risk for heart problems. Observe moderate drinking guidelines: women should limit themselves to one drink a day, and men should not take more than two drinks a day. [10]

7. Get Enough Sleep: Poor sleep is also related to heart disease. Get 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night and seek help for issues such as sleep apnea or insomnia. [11]

8. Regular Check-ups: Monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Check-ups are designed to help in the early detection and treatment of risk factors, thereby preventing complications.

Such precautionary measures, if taken, can reduce the likelihood of any cardiac emergency. Prevention assures not only a healthy but also an elongated life, thereby saving you and your family from the stress and strains linked with a heart attack.

Final Words

When it comes to heart attacks and cardiac arrests, time is critical. Delays in treatment can lead to irreversible damage to the heart muscle or even death. By recognizing the symptoms and acting quickly, you can provide first aid that’s not just helpful but life-saving.

Remember, knowing how to administer first aid treatment for chest pain, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest isn’t just a skill—it’s a responsibility we all share. Equip yourself with this knowledge and be prepared to make a difference when it matters most. In an emergency, your ability to provide heart attack first aid could mean the difference between life and death. 

If you think you or someone you know might be at risk of heart disease or heart attacks, don’t hesitate to take action. Visit a tertiary-care hospital as soon as possible and consult a cardiologist. Early action could mean the difference between life and death.

FAQs

1. What are the common symptoms of a heart attack?
   Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and pain in the jaw, neck, or arm.

2. What should I do if I suspect someone is having a heart attack?
   Call emergency services immediately (911 or your local equivalent) and begin CPR if necessary.

3. Can women experience heart attacks differently than men?
   Yes, women may experience atypical symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and back or jaw pain.

4. What are some risk factors for heart attack?
   High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and family history.

5. Can lifestyle changes reduce the risk of heart attack?
   Yes, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking can significantly lower your risk.

Citations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). (2010). Cardiovascular diseases. How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53012/

Di Cesare, M., Perel, P., Taylor, S., Kabudula, C., Bixby, H., Gaziano, T. A., McGhie, D. V., Mwangi, J., Pervan, B., Narula, J., Pineiro, D., & Pinto, F. J. (2024). The heart of the world. Global Heart, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.5334/gh.1288

Diab, A., Dastmalchi, L. N., Gulati, M., & Michos, E. D. (2023). A Heart-Healthy Diet for cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Where are we now? Vascular Health and Risk Management, Volume 19, 237–253. https://doi.org/10.2147/vhrm.s379874

Fang, J., Luncheon, C., Ayala, C., Odom, E., & Loustalot, F. (2019). Awareness of heart attack symptoms and response among adults — United States, 2008, 2014, and 2017. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(5), 101–106. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6805a2