WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I’M HAVING A HEART ATTACK?
Call for an ambulance immediately, and stay calm. Then, sit or lie still and slowly chew one 300 mg aspirin tablet—aspirin helps minimize heart damage or development of a dangerous blood clot by reducing the ‘stickiness’ of the platelets that play an important part in blood clotting. Also, make sure your door is unlocked so emergency responders can get into your house. Don’t eat or drink anything, and phone a relative, neighbor, or friend to come wait with you.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT ONCE I GET TO THE HOSPITAL?
First, you’ll be hooked up to a cardiac monitor and intravenous drip. You’ll be given oxygen and pain medication while an electrocardiogram (ECG) test is performed to measure the heart’s electrical impulses and to detect any irregular rhythm or other abnormalities that indicate a heart attack. They’ll take a blood sample to see if the heart muscle is damaged and may repeat this up to 12 hours after a suspected attack. These blood tests measure levels of an enzyme called troponin, which is released into the bloodstream if the heart muscle is damaged or dying. Depending on your condition or the severity of your attack, doctors may keep you in the hospital until the best treatment is determined.
