Heart Attack Response

Recognizing and responding to myocardial infarction

Step by Step

Symptoms: central chest pain, pressure, or tightness that may spread to the arms, jaw, neck, back, or stomach, with sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness. Women, older people, and people with diabetes more often have less typical symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, or indigestion like discomfort. Call emergency services immediately. Help the person rest in a comfortable position, for example sitting on the floor with knees bent and back supported. UK NHS guidance is to chew an adult aspirin, 300 mg, if available and the person is not allergic to it; the emergency call handler can confirm. Stay with them, keep them calm, and be ready to start CPR and use an AED if they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally.