A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen, either partially or completely, because the coronary arteries are blocked (through atherosclerosis). Insufficient amounts of oxygen and nutrients cause the heart muscle to die and malfunction, causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction), heart failure, and ultimately death. Approximately every 34 seconds, one person has a heart attack in the US. Physical damage from a heart attack can be minimized by intervening early, so it is very important to recognize the signs of a heart attack and get the sufferer to the hospital immediately because this can increase the chances of the victim to survive.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing Symptoms and Asking for Help
Step 1. Understand that sometimes the warning signs are very subtle or none at all
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, and show no warning signs or symptoms. However, there are usually few clues that can be recognized or marginalized. Some of the early warning signs of heart disease include high blood pressure, chronic heartburn, reduced cardiovascular fitness, and a vague feeling of discomfort or unwell. These symptoms can begin a few days or weeks before the heart muscle is damaged and makes it unable to function.
- Symptoms that occur in women are very difficult to recognize and are often overlooked or overlooked.
- Some of the main risk factors for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke include: high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, and advanced age (aged 65 years and over).
- A heart attack doesn't always result in heart failure (total cessation of the heart), but heart failure is definitely a sign of a heart attack.
Step 2. Identify the most common symptoms of a heart attack
Most heart attacks don't happen suddenly or "unpredictably." In contrast, a heart attack usually starts slowly with mild chest pain or discomfort that lasts a few hours or even days. Pain in the chest (often described as pressure, squeezing, or intense pain) occurs in the center of the chest which may be continuous or intermittent. Some other common symptoms of a heart attack include: shortness of breath, cold sweats (with pale or gray skin), dizziness or headache, moderate to severe fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and sensation of severe indigestion.
- Not all heart attacks have the same symptoms or severity, so they can all vary.
- Some people also feel the sensation of "death" or "will die" which is a unique experience for people who have had a heart attack.
- Usually people who have a heart attack (even if it is mild) will fall to the ground, or at least hit something to find support. Other causes of chest pain usually do not make the sufferer fall suddenly.
Step 3. Recognize some of the less common symptoms of a heart attack
In addition to the appearance of some symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and cold sweats, there are some less common symptoms in terms of the characteristics of myocardial infarction that you should know to assess whether there is a possibility of heart failure. Symptoms that appear include: pain or discomfort in other areas of the body, for example in the left arm (or sometimes both arms), mid back (thoracic spine), front neck and/or lower jaw.
- Compared to men, women experience less common symptoms of a heart attack, particularly pain in the middle back, jaw pain, and nausea/vomiting.
- Several other diseases and conditions can have symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, but the more often you experience the signs and symptoms, the better your ability to identify whether it is a heart attack or not.
Step 4. Call emergency services immediately
Act immediately and call emergency services if you suspect someone is having a heart attack (ambulance: 118/119, or 112 which is used the same as 911 in the US, but is only available in certain cities). Even if the person does not show the main signs and symptoms of a heart attack, contacting medical help is a very important step if someone is in danger. Emergency medical services can provide treatment as soon as they arrive and have been trained to resuscitate people whose hearts have stopped functioning.
- If you can't call emergency services for some reason, ask people around the scene to contact emergency services and let you know when emergency services will arrive.
- Patients with chest pain and heart attacks who are transported by ambulance usually receive faster attention and treatment when they arrive at the hospital.
Part 2 of 2: Dealing with Victims Before Medical Assistance Arrives
Step 1. Sit the person down, with their knees raised
Most medical professionals recommend placing the person suspected of having a heart attack in the "W position," which is a semi-recumbent position (sitting about 75 degrees off the floor) with the knees bent. The back must be supported, it can be with several pillows when inside the house or leaning against a tree if outside the house. Once seated in the W position, loosen clothing around the neck and chest (such as a tie, scarf or top button) and try to keep the person still and calm. You may not know what makes them uncomfortable, but you can reassure the person that medical help will arrive soon and that you will continue to be with them until they arrive.
- The person cannot walk.
- Keeping a person having a heart attack calm is not easy, but try not to talk too much or ask a lot of irrelevant personal questions. The effort it takes to answer your question may be too much for him.
- While waiting for emergency services to arrive, keep the patient warm by covering himself with a jacket or blanket.
Step 2. Ask if the person is carrying nitroglycerin
People who have a history of heart problems and angina (pain in the chest and arms caused by heart disease) are usually prescribed nitroglycerin, a powerful vasodilator that relaxes (dilates) large blood vessels so that oxygenated blood can reach the heart in sufficient quantities. bigger. Nitroglycerin can also relieve painful symptoms of a heart attack. Sufferers often carry nitroglycerin with them, so ask if they carry it and help the person take it while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Nitroglycerin is available as a small pill or spray, both of which must be administered under the tongue (sublingually). Sprays (Nitrolingual) are reported to have a faster effect because they are absorbed more quickly than pills.
- If you don't know the dosage, just give one pill or two nitroglycerin sprays under your tongue.
- After being given nitroglycerin, the person may become dizzy, have a headache, or pass out immediately, so make sure the position is secure, in a sitting position, and there is no risk of falling and hitting his head.
Step 3. Give aspirin
If you or the person having a heart attack has aspirin, give it if he or she is not allergic to aspirin. Ask if he has any allergies and look at the medical bracelet on his wrist (if there is one) if he has difficulty speaking. If you are over 18 years of age, give a 300 mg aspirin tablet to chew slowly. Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can reduce heart damage by "thinning" the blood, which means preventing the blood from clotting. Aspirin can also reduce associated inflammation and help reduce pain from a heart attack.
- Aspirin can be absorbed more quickly by the body when chewed.
- Aspirin can be taken together with nitroglycerin.
- Aspirin at a dose of 300 mg can be obtained from one aspirin tablet for adults or 2 to 4 tablets for infants.
- Upon arrival at the hospital, patients with cardiac arrest will be given vasodilators, "clot-breaking" drugs, antiplatelet agents and/or stronger (morphine-based) pain relievers.
Step 4. Perform CPR if the person stops breathing
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is performed by applying pressure to the chest to help push blood through the arteries (especially towards the brain) combined with giving artificial respiration (mouth to mouth), to deliver oxygen to the lungs. Keep in mind that CPR has limitations and usually doesn't trigger the heart to beat again, but it can deliver precious oxygen to the brain and provide first aid before emergency services arrive with an electric defibrillator. Regardless, there's nothing wrong with taking a CPR course, at least to learn the basics.
- When CPR is performed before emergency services arrive, the person has a better chance of surviving a heart attack or stroke.
- People who are not trained to perform CPR should only apply pressure to the chest and should not give rescue breaths. If he doesn't know how to perform artificial respiration effectively, it will only be a waste of time and energy because he is giving artificial respiration that is incorrect and ineffective.
- Remember that time is of the essence when an unconscious person stops breathing. Permanent brain damage begins when the brain is deprived of oxygen after four to six minutes, and death can occur within 4 to 6 minutes after multiple tissues have been damaged.
Tips
- Emergency service operators have been specially trained to provide the best instructions for what to do until emergency services personnel arrive. Always follow the instructions given by the emergency services operator.
- Make the victim comfortable and if possible keep the people around him calm. Ask those around him not to panic and/or not crowd around the victim.
- Don't leave a person having a heart attack alone, except to ask for help.
