“Heart attack emergency treatment at home” in this article, we will discuss this. Heart attacks can happen to anyone. But knowing what to do during an emergency is important.
Suppose someone has heart attack symptoms and is not near a hospital or medical facility. They should call for an ambulance immediately.
It is also important that you know how to provide heart attack emergency treatment at home. So if help isn’t nearby, you will be able to take care of them until professionals arrive.
However, to learn more, keep reading this article! You may learn a lot of information regarding heart attack emergency treatment at home!
Signs and Symptoms of an impending heart attack
It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of an impending heart attack. The following are common signs and symptoms:
- Chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom. The discomfort can feel like-
- uncomfortable pressure,
- squeezing,
- fullness
- Pain in other areas of the upper body. That includes
- one or both arms,
- back,
- neck,
- jaw, and
- stomach
- shortness of breath
- nausea or vomiting
It is important to note that symptoms of heart attack can vary from person to person. However, it is important not to make any assumptions about symptoms. Also, heart attack-related diseases.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate to call an ambulance immediately. Heart attacks can be fatal if they are not taken immediately.
People with heart attack symptoms should be laid down. And kept warm with a blanket or coat to prevent shock.
If they are experiencing heart attack symptoms and someone else is present when it happens. Make sure that you stay calm.
Panic will only cause the heart to become more stressed. Moreover, heart attack symptoms worsen.
An important thing to remember about heart attacks is that every second counts. If heart attack symptoms are present and you believe the heart attack is serious.
Call an ambulance immediately if heart attack symptoms are present. And the heart attack is serious. Heart attacks can be fatal. So every second counts as heart attack symptoms can worsen quickly.
How to tell the difference between chest pain caused by angina (from coronary artery disease) and chest pain caused by a heart attack?
First, we will look into the different types of chest pain, and then we will go over the difference between angina and heart attacks.
The most common type of chest pain is caused by muscles in the chest wall contracting.
This causes a sharp, stabbing, or pressing pain usually located on one side of the body (unilateral) above the tip of the shoulder blade (called “angina”). The pain can radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or back.
Other causes of chest pain include heartburn (also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD), esophagus spasms and inflammation (also called esophagitis), and costochondritis.
Heart attack is the sudden death of heart cells due to a lack of oxygen. It may cause crushing chest pain and usually radiates to the left arm and left shoulder (unilateral). The pain usually lasts longer than 15 minutes and may become excruciating.
Several ways we can distinguish between angina and heart attack
- The pain is usually much different in character and intensity compared to angina. Heart attack patients often say the pain radiates up to their jaw and down their left arm and feels like a vise tightening around their chest. It may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath, anxiety, and dizziness.
- Angina pain is relieved by rest or with medication, whereas heart attack pain is not. Treatment for angina may include medication (Nitroglycerin) taken under the tongue (sublingually), which provides rapid relief of symptoms in most cases. Nitroglycerin is also available in a spray-on form that can apply under the tongue.
- Angina pain is typically brought on by exertion, whereas heart attack pain may occur at rest and is usually more intense. The intensity of angina sometimes can increase with time, but it does not suddenly become excruciating as it occurs with a heart attack.
- An echocardiogram, an ultrasound exam of the heart, can be used to differentiate between these two different types of chest pain.
- Another way of differentiating among these three conditions is with imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT) scan or a nuclear medicine scan called a thallium stress test. However, these tests are not routinely used to diagnose angina.
How do I know if it’s a heart attack?
There are several things to look out for. One is the location of the suspected heart attack, as it will often be in the center of the chest.
The pain experienced by the person – a sharp, tearing, or pressure-like sensation. It may come and go for a few minutes, then stop before coming back again.
These symptoms must not ignore as many of them can be signs of a heart attack.
Immediate treatment for heart pain?
The heart is a vital organ that pumps blood throughout our body. When someone has heart pain, it may be because the heart muscle isn’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood.
To ensure proper heart health and prevent heart attacks. We should eat well-balanced diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
In addition, maintain healthy weights. Avoid smoking or using tobacco, and be physically active.
- Call 911 immediately if someone has a heart attack. Do not drive them to the hospital yourself. Since you could make their condition worse;
- Perform CPR if the heart attack victim has stopped breathing or is unresponsive;
- Give heart attack patients an aspirin unless they are allergic to it. This will reduce their risk of having a heart attack in the future. And prevent further damage to the heart muscle;
- If you have nitroglycerin tablets used to treat heart attacks. Place them under the patient’s tongue. Nitroglycerin works by relaxing blood vessels. As well as increasing heart muscle oxygen supply;
- If a heart attack is suspected, give the person a high oxygen concentration with an O² mask or bag valve mask (BVM). This will ensure that their heart gets enough oxygen.
Perform CPR if you are qualified
If you can perform CPR, you should do so. If you are not, then continue reading the article as we will discuss how to perform CPR.
CPR is a life-saving technique that can save someone who has stopped breathing or is not getting enough oxygen.
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It consists of chest compressions and rescue breaths which circulate blood through the brain. And other vital organs until treatment arrives.
This post will explain how CPR works, what you should do in an emergency.
The procedure consists of:
-chest compressions,
-airway management,
-rescue breathing, and
-circulation checks.
Use an AED if you can
An automated external defibrillator (AED) has a set of instructions on its screen or voice prompt that tell you which button to press next to deliver the most appropriate shock.
If there’s time, read these instructions before using an AED. Otherwise, go with your instinct and common sense as you work quickly.
How do I use an AED device?
First, be sure to read and understand the instructions on how to use an AED device.
It would help if you made sure that there were no obstacles around your device to reach it. And nobody should be able to press any buttons on the device. Make sure there are no children around who will accidentally do this.
Once the AED is on, and you have assessed whether or not it has been used before, look at the patient to decide. If they are indeed in cardiac arrest as described above after assessing responsiveness as well as breathing ability.
If they are not breathing, place them on their back with their head tilted upwards, then follow with CPR if they don’t start breathing independently.
Afterward, apply the AED pads to the center of their chest and follow with a shock if indicated in your device’s instructions.
Please make sure there are no air obstacles or that you have removed them when applying the pads. Then send a shock after waiting for at least 10 seconds.
When heart pain is not a heart attack
Several conditions can cause heart pain but are not heart attacks. These include-
-indigestion or acid reflux,
-costochondritis (Tietze syndrome),
-musculoskeletal chest wall strain, and
-anxiety disorders which affect the heart rate/rhythm.
The heart is a muscle, and it can be strained by strenuous activity or poor heart health. Chest pain may also occur during heart failure when the heart isn’t strong enough to pump blood effectively around the body.
In this case, get medical help if you have shortness of breath/coughing up phlegm for weeks; swelling of the feet/ankles, or sudden weight gain; swelling of your legs, ankles, and feet.
When heart pain is a heart attack
A heart attack occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation behind your breastbone.
Heart attacks can be caused by eating large meals, wearing tight clothes around your waist. In addition, smoking cigarettes and chewing gum/smoking simultaneously.
Moreover, lying down right after eating or drinking heartburn-causing foods and beverages.
What do I need to remember when performing first aid on a person who is choking?
Choking is a potentially life-threatening situation. The person will die within minutes if first aid isn’t provided.
Keep in mind that if someone around you is choking, it’s important to remain calm and take action immediately as time is of the essence and every second counts.
You can help by performing abdominal thrusts to dislodge whatever foreign objects are in the person’s airway.
Suppose you don’t have experience when it comes to abdominal thrusts. Learn how to do it well and teach others in your household.
Home remedies for a cardiac patient:
Heart patients should avoid heartburn causing trigger foods and beverages. Get regular exercise to strengthen heart muscles. And take medication as prescribed by the doctor.
Avoid smoking or using tobacco. As well as should be physically active; maintain a healthy weight. Moreover, manage stress levels in your life.
Besides, do something relaxing every day, such as meditation/yoga/listening to music, lower heart rate.
Eating heart-healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts/legumes. Anything full of high fiber. Fiber will increase heart health by reducing heart disease risk factors like cholesterol levels.
On the other hand, in cardiac arrest, many conditions can cause heart pain, including indigestion or acid reflux, costochondritis (Tietze syndrome), musculoskeletal chest wall strain, and anxiety disorders that affect heart rate.
Final Words
In conclusion, heart attacks can happen to anyone, which is why you must know how to perform heart attack emergency treatment at home.
This article will explain how CPR works and the proper procedure for administering a heart-saving shock with an AED if there isn’t time to call for help or someone nearby knows what they are doing.
You should also know heart attack symptoms and how to provide heart attack emergency treatment at home. This article will include a section detailing the most common misconceptions about CPR and the steps for performing this life-saving technique.
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