Angina Attack Response

Helping someone through chest pain from reduced heart blood flow

Step by Step

Angina is chest pain or tightness that comes on with exertion and eases with rest, usually within minutes, in people with known heart disease. Help the person stop what they are doing and sit down. If they carry glyceryl trinitrate spray or tablets, help them use it as prescribed, usually under the tongue, which may be repeated after a few minutes if needed. If the pain does not ease within 5 minutes of rest and medication, or a third dose is needed, treat it as a possible heart attack: call emergency services. Call immediately also if the pain is severe, comes at rest, lasts longer than usual, or comes with sweating, breathlessness, or feeling faint. Stay with them and be ready to start CPR.