🚨 If You Think You’re Having a Heart Attack at Home, Do This First
There is no proven “10-second trick” that can stop a heart attack. The most important action is to call your local emergency medical service immediately. Don’t wait to see whether the pain goes away and don’t drive yourself to the hospital. (www.heart.org)
What to do
- Call emergency services immediately. Put the phone on speaker if you’re alone.
- Sit down and rest in a comfortable position while waiting for help. (nhs.uk)
- Follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
- If you’re an alert adult with suspected heart-attack chest pain, current first-aid guidelines say you may chew and swallow 162–325 mg of aspirin while waiting for EMS unless you’re allergic to aspirin or have been told by a healthcare professional not to take it. If you’re uncertain, wait for EMS rather than taking it. (cpr.heart.org)
- If the person becomes unresponsive and isn’t breathing normally, this may be cardiac arrest rather than simply a heart attack. Call emergency services, begin CPR, and use an AED if available. (www.heart.org)
❤️ Know the warning signs
Heart attack symptoms can include pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest, discomfort in the arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness. Symptoms can be mild and may come and go. (www.heart.org)
Don’t rely on coughing, drinking water, deep breathing, or other viral “10-second cures.” They cannot reopen a blocked coronary artery. Minutes matter.
