If You Think You’re Having a Heart Attack at Home, Do This First
The viral claim that there is a 10-second trick that can save your life is misleading. There is no maneuver, cough, breathing technique, or body position that can treat a heart attack at home.
The most important action: call emergency services immediately
If you have symptoms such as pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest; pain in the arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; cold sweating; nausea; or lightheadedness, call your local emergency number right away. Don’t wait to see whether it goes away.
Don’t drive yourself to the hospital. An ambulance crew can begin assessment and treatment on the way, and the American Heart Association recommends calling emergency medical services rather than arranging private transport.
What about aspirin?
After you call, follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions. In some circumstances, an alert adult with suspected heart-attack symptoms may be advised to chew aspirin, provided they aren’t allergic to aspirin and haven’t been told not to take it. But don’t take aspirin first and delay the emergency call.
If the person becomes unconscious
A heart attack can sometimes trigger cardiac arrest, which is different from a heart attack. If someone becomes unresponsive and isn’t breathing normally, call emergency services and begin CPR, following the dispatcher’s instructions; use an AED if one is available.
