Heart Attack – What To Do If You Think You Have A Heart Attack?

By Dr. Akeel Salahudeen

• What is a Heart Attack?
• Who is at High Risk for a Heart Attack?
• What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack? 
• What If You Or Someone You Know Has A Heart Attack – What Do You Do Next?
  • 1. Call an ambulance or arrange transport to the hospital 
  • 2. Sit or lie down, do not exert yourself, and calm down. 
  • 3. Chew and Swallow Aspirin 300mg

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack is a lay term used to refer to what is known as a Myocardial Infarction (MI). A Myocardial Infarction is basically when a portion of the heart muscle dies due to a lack of blood supply. This often happens when a clot blocks one of the arteries carrying blood to the heart. 

A heart attack is a medical emergency and can lead to severe complications, including death. However, not all heart attacks are fatal, and the damage to the heart and life can be minimized if necessary steps are taken in due time.

Who is at High Risk for a Heart Attack?

Most people who have a heart attack have not been diagnosed with any heart diseases in the past. Even though a heart attack could happen to anyone, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing a heart attack. 

1. Hypertension – is the most common risk factor. Hypertension can be diagnosed on routine medical check ups and it can be controlled with proper lifestyle modifications and medications. 
2. Diabetes – is the most deadly risk factor for heart diseases. Diabetes can be diagnosed on routine medical check ups and can be controlled with lifestyle modifications and medications as well. 
3. Smoking – smoking leads to many diseases throughout the body. Ischemic heart disease is one of them.
4. Obesity and hyperlipidemia – or high cholesterol (LDL) is another risk factor that can be controlled with proper diet, exercise ,and medications. 
5. A family history of heart diseases, and male gender – are non-modifiable risk factors that cannot be controlled. Therefore it is important to identify the modifiable risk factors and treat them accordingly before a heart attack sets in. 

That being said, it is important to understand that a heart attack could happen to anyone, even with minimum risk factors. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so it is always recommended to follow the steps given below and rush to the hospital to rule out a life-threating heart attack.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack? 

Not all heart attacks present the same way. The typical symptoms of a heart attack include;

• Chest Pain- tightness or a squeezing sensation in the center of the chest that radiates to the left shoulder and arm. Chest pain may or may not be associated with;
  • Nausea and vomiting. 
  • Sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness

• However, not everyone will develop the same type of chest pain. Some women and those with diabetes often do not produce typical chest pain. Some wouldn’t develop a chest pain at all.

• Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider the possibility of a heart attack at the slightest doubt and act accordingly. Do not shrug it off as a false alarm. 

Apart from these, it is recommended that;

What If You Or Someone You Know Has A Heart Attack – What Do You Do Next?

1. Call an ambulance or arrange transport to the hospital 

The first step you have to take at the slightest doubt is to call an ambulance. If the local ambulances take too long, the next best thing is to arrange transport to a hospital via other means.

2. Sit or lie down, do not exert yourself, and calm down. 

This cannot be stressed enough. It is crucial to understand that a heart attack compromises the blood supply to the heart. Exerting yourself, physically or mentally, can increase the workload of the heart and the oxygen requirements of the heart. Since the blood supply to the heart is already reduced, this can lead to further myocardial necrosis. 

So, sit or lie down and tell someone else to help you with the following steps while you wait for an ambulance. However, if there is no one around, you will have to follow the steps with minimum exertion. 

3. Chew and Swallow Aspirin 300mg

Aspirin can save your life if the damage is not yet extensive. Aspirin is capable of reducing the coagulability of blood. It reduces the rate of clot formation and can minimize the size of blood clots that have been formed. 

It is always a good idea to have a packet of Aspirin at home. If you do not have Aspirin at home, it is important to go or send someone to the pharmacy right now and get a few tablets of Aspirin and have it with you at home and in your car. If you do get a chest pain and you do not have aspirin at home, get it on the way.

It is recommended to crush or chew the tablets before swallowing for faster absorption. 

Aspirin is usually available over the counter as 75mg tablets. So four 75mg tablets have to be taken as you wait for the ambulance. 

However, if you have any aspirin allergies or have been advised not to take Aspirin, do not take Aspirin. 

If and when you survive a heart attack, it is essential to consider its causes and consider intensive lifestyle modifications.

A heart attack can be an extremely stressful situation. It is crucial to recognize the signs early and act promptly. Go through the points mentioned and share this knowledge with anyone you can. It can save a life or two.