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Heart Attack / Chest Pain
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A heart attack happens there is inadequate oxygen to the muscles of the heart. This commonly due to the blockage of coronary arteries which provide the heart muscle with oxygenated blood. If the flow of blood is not restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

Symptoms

Steps
1   Calm and reassure the person until help arrives.
2   Call 911 or your local emergency services immediately and notify them of a possible heart attack.
3   Check the person's vitals (pulse, breathing, and level of consciousness) and provide any CPR if needed.
4   Gently help the person to a comfortable position either sitting or semi-sitting, provide a pillow for extra comfort.
5   Get the person to chew 1 tablet of aspirin as long as the person is not allergic to it.
6   If the person has a history of heart disease, and has been prescribed nitroglycerin, give it to them by placing 1 tablet under their tongue. If symptoms do no resolve after the 1st tablet, take another one.
7   Loosen any tight clothing and remove any jewelry especially around the person’s neck.
8   Ask the person if they have been prescribed nitroglycerin and if they have any provide it to them usually by placing it under the tongue.
9   Keep the person warm by covering them with a blanket or coat.
10   If the person requires more than 1 nitroglycerin tablet in 5 minutes, transport them to the nearest ER.
Warnings
DO NOT lay the person down flat as this position makes breathing difficult
DO NOT try to “tough out” symptoms of a heart attack for more than 5 min call 911 or take the person to the hospital immediately
DO NOT wait for symptoms to go away
Make sure the person is not allergic to aspirin
Tips
Aspirin helps thin the blood which may help reduce the severity of the episode.

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GotoAID does not provide any medical advice or treatment, it is solely for informational purposes only