A heart attack is an emergency in which a person can even lose their life if medical help is not provided immediately. The first 1 hour after a heart attack is critical. If the person receives medical help at this time, he is likely to survive. But heart attacks don’t come by telling. So when a person has a heart attack it is not necessary to have someone around or near a hospital to help. A patient can help himself even in such emergencies if certain things are taken care of. Here are some tips that will increase your chances of survival during a heart attack.
Identify the features
First of all, one should guess whether the patient has a heart attack or any other problem based on his symptoms. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, some common symptoms of a heart attack in men and women are as follows.
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain, heaviness or severe burning sensation
- Pain or stiffness in the upper body (arms, shoulders, back, jaw, neck, chest), etc.
- Cold sweat from forehead and body
- Vomiting and nausea
- Sudden loss of consciousness and darkness before the eyes
Follow these tips if you’re having a heart attack while alone
If you’re alone during a heart attack, some tips can help save your life, according to UPMC Health Beat.
Take an aspirin tablet
If you already have known heart disease, always take aspirin tablets with you. If you feel any of the above symptoms, you should immediately take an aspirin tablet. Aspirin tablets thin the blood. It breaks up the blood clots that have formed in your body and helps blood flow to resume.
Call an ambulance
After taking aspirin tablets, call an ambulance immediately and, if possible, someone close to you.
If you are driving, stop the car and pull over immediately. Many times a person loses consciousness during a heart attack, which can cause serious danger.
Try to lower body temperature
If you are wearing a tie and a lot of clothes, first loosen the tie and open the shirt button etc. After that, place a cloth soaked in cold water on your armpits and wrists. This gradually lowers your body temperature.
Remember – none of these tips guarantee that a heart attack will stop immediately. But yes, according to experts, doing this will give enough time to reach the hospital. If you have heart disease or have had a previous heart attack, ask your doctor what you can do in an emergency.
