What To Do if Someone Is Having a Heart Attack

If someone is showing signs of a heart attack, the first and most important step is to call 911 for emergency care.

“If you feel like something’s not right, start by seeking immediate medical care,” says cardiologist Jacqueline Tamis-Holland, MD. “Every minute matters when it comes to limiting damage to the heart.”

But as you wait for first responders to arrive, here’s what you can do if you’re dealing with a potential heart attack.

First aid for a heart attack

If you’re with someone who may be having a heart attack, stay with them after calling 911 or emergency services and follow instructions from the emergency dispatcher. If you’re alone and potentially having a heart attack, stay on the phone with your emergency dispatcher.

Until the rescue vehicle sirens reach your location, you may be advised to:

• Take aspirin. Aspirin is a blood thinner that can help prevent clotting and maintain blood flow to your heart. Given that, it’s often recommended during a heart attack. Your 911 operator can offer guidance.
• Take nitroglycerine (if prescribed). Nitroglycerine is a medication that relaxes blood vessels to improve blood flow. Tell the emergency operator if you have a prescription for it. They can advise you on whether to take it.
• Relax. Sit down and focus on staying calm. “There’s no need to be pacing or moving around,” says Dr. Tamis-Holland. “A heart attack isn’t something you can walk off.”
• Get comfortable. If your clothes feel tight, loosen your belt or unbutton your shirt. Removing extra layers of clothing (if you’re up for it) can help save time for emergency responders if they need to start an IV or do an EKG.

DO NOT get impatient and try to drive yourself to the hospital or ER. A heart attack can take a life-threatening turn on the way to the hospital, which is not when you want to be driving or even riding along.

If things escalate in the ambulance, on the other hand, treatment can begin immediately.

Should you give CPR for a heart attack?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is NOT something you do on someone having a heart attack unless their heart attack triggers a cardiac arrest and stops their heart — a much more serious event.

“If someone is unconscious and doesn’t have a pulse, that would be the time for CPR,” clarifies Dr. Tamis-Holland. “Do not do CPR on an awake person who’s talking to you and saying they have chest pain. You could make their situation worse.”

A heart attack and cardiac arrest are different after all. In the simplest of explanations:

• During a heart attack, your heart continues to pump, albeit at a reduced rate. People are typically alert and responsive during a heart attack.
• A cardiac arrest is when your heart stops beating and pumping blood, leading to a complete body shutdown. People typically collapse and are unresponsive. A heart attack can escalate to cardiac arrest, but not always.

Can an AED be used for a heart attack?

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, should only be used on someone in cardiac arrest — NOT for a heart attack. The device delivers an electrical charge to “shock” your heart back into its normal rhythm.

“Again, this is where it’s important to distinguish and understand the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest,” states Dr. Tamis-Holland.

The importance of quick action for a heart attack

The faster you act on a heart attack, the better your chances of preventing long-term heart damage. Don’t wave off signs of a heart attack as nothing to worry about.

Nobody is immune to a heart attack after all, emphasizes Dr. Tamis-Holland. It can happen at any age, too. In fact, research shows an alarming increase in heart attacks for people under the age of 40 in the United States.

“Everybody is at risk,” she continues. “So, if you’re feeling chest pain and discomfort or other symptoms, listen to your body. Don’t ignore your heart telling you something.”

That message from your heart could be delivered by:

• Pressure or tightness in your chest
• Pain in your left side (arm, jaw or neck) or back
• Heartburn-like discomfort
• Cold sweats
• Shortness of breath
• A sense of “impending doom”

Heart attack symptoms typically linger, so if the above issues continue for 10 minutes (or more), it’s important to seek emergency care. Permanent heart damage may occur if blood flow is restricted for 30 minutes.

But know this: While a heart attack is a serious situation, the survival and recovery rates are extremely high with medical treatment that quickly restores blood flow to the affected area of your heart.

“The trick to surviving a heart attack is to get immediate care so we can open the blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart,” explains Dr. Tamis-Holland. “That’s why it’s so important to be seen as soon as possible.”