Heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs when the blood flow to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Heart attacks can occur in people with preexisting heart disease and also in people with no history of heart disease at all. A heart attack is a medical emergency and immediate first aid can help save a life.
Highlights
- Heart attacks and angina are medical emergency situations that need immediate medical attention and first aid.
- Call an ambulance immediately. Meanwhile, give aspirin or nitroglycerin sublingually to relieve chest pain and prevent myocardial cell death.
- Any delay in medical help can cause irreversible damage to the heart and even death.
A heart attack is characterized by a blockage or narrowing of the arteries due to fat deposition. The heart does not receive enough oxygen and the muscle is damaged. Heart attacks can result in severe chest pain that radiates to the neck and jaws. Immediate medical help is necessary to prevent sudden death due to tissue damage. First aid for heart attack at home can manage the condition until a nearby hospital is reached.
Symptoms of Heart Attack
The most noticeable signs and symptoms indicating a heart attack include;
- Severe chest pain and tightness
- Extreme pain in left arm that radiates to jaws and neck
- Cold sweats and shivering
- Lightheadedness and dizziness
- Fatigue and numbness
If you notice some or all of these symptoms in anyone around you, don’t wait for a second and call an ambulance. Meanwhile, give first aid to heart attack patients in order to avoid any serious irreversible complications
Read Also: 6 signs of a heart attack
What is First Aid treatment for Heart Attack at Home?
Immediate care for heart attacks can help prevent myocardial cell death. Here is what you should do as soon as you notice the above-mentioned symptoms in someone;
1. Call the Ambulance
The first and far most important step for a person having any of the symptoms of a heart attack is to call the local ambulance.
- Do not wait for the person to get better. Instead, call the ambulance immediately.
- If you are alone, get immediate help from any nearby person.
- After calling, reassure the person that he will be all right.
- While waiting for an ambulance, make the patient sit comfortably.
- Give further first aid until the ambulance arrives.
2. Give an Aspirin
Always keep regular strength (300 mg) aspirin in your first aid kit as it stops heart attacks within a few minutes. Chewing and swallowing an aspirin tablet provides instant relief from chest pain and angina within 5-8 minutes. Chewing before swallowing decreases the disintegrating time for the tablet.
- Avoid using aspirin in patients who are known to have an allergy to the tablet.
- Aspirin is contraindicated in patients who have bleeding disorders.
- Aspirin tablet is not recommended in patients who are already on blood thinning medicines.
Giving aspirin immediately can ease the blood flow to the heart immediately. This can help overcome the blockage in the heart. It prevents clotting in the heart and prevents heart muscle damage.
Also Read: Best exercises for heart health
3. Give Nitroglycerine
Nitroglycerine is an FDA-approved vasodilator used to provide immediate relief from angina chest pain. Aspirin and Nitroglycerine do not stop heart attack and cardiac arrest but can lessen the damage caused to the heart.
- Give Nitroglycerin sublingual – under the tongue or between the cheek and gums.
- Nitroglycerin provides instant chest pain relief within 1-5 minutes.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke while the tablet is dissolving.
4. CPR in Heart Attack
If the patient is unconscious and you sense no pulse, start CPR immediately. CPR helps the blood keep flowing.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is a technique that is used to keep the blood flowing when the patient is unconscious and his breathing and heartbeat have stopped.
- Effective CPR is a combination of physical compressions in the chest and mouth-to-mouth respiration.
- During CPR, push hard and fast on the center of the person’s chest in a fairly rapid rhythm — about 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
- Mouth-to-mouth breathing is to imitate breathing for the patient so that some amount of blood keeps flowing through the body.
- CPR can not give life to a deceased patient but can help keep the patient alive until proper or more aggressive treatment is administered.
Unfortunately, not everyone can give effective CPR. For this, you might need some training but trust me it can help save lives.
5. Give Early Defibrillation
AED (automatic external defibrillator) is a compact device used to generate electric shocks. These shocks help the heart regain its rhythm.
- These devices are designed to be used at home so you don’t have to worry about using them.
- CPR along with AEDs can dramatically increase survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest.
- AED can only be used if there is an abnormal rhythm.
- If the patient is having a cardiac arrest without such a faulty rhythm, AED can not help at all. In such cases, CPR can help until proper care is provided.
The Bottom Line
Heart attack or cardiac arrest can be fatal, if not, it can be traumatizing, to say the least. The best way to go is to keep a healthy heart and prevent all such situations. Cardiac arrest and heart attack are often a result of an already diseased heart so it is recommended to keep your heart health in check through regular visits to a cardiologist.
Book an appointment now with a cardiologist for a detailed heart check-up to avoid a heart attack or cardiac arrest. You can also book an online appointment with a heart specialist.
FAQs
1. Can a heart attack be treated at home?
You can not treat a heart attack at home but giving first aid to a patient with symptoms of angina can help manage the symptoms to minimize the risk of cell death and irreversible heart damage.
2. How should you lie down for a heart attack?
The best position to rest during chest pain is to lie on the floor with knees bent and shoulders supported using a cushion. Take any posture that is comfortable for you until the ambulance arrives.