If you think you’re having a heart attack at home
The claim that there is one thing you can do in 10 seconds to save yourself is misleading. There is no guaranteed 10-second trick. The most important action is to get emergency medical help immediately.
If this is happening right now:
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Call your local emergency service immediately. Don’t wait for symptoms to disappear and don’t drive yourself if an ambulance is available.
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Stop exerting yourself and sit or rest in a comfortable position while waiting.
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If you’re an alert adult with suspected heart-attack symptoms, chewing and swallowing 162–325 mg of aspirin may be appropriate if you are not allergic to aspirin and haven’t been told not to take it. If you’re unsure, follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions.
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If you have prescribed nitroglycerin, take it exactly as previously instructed.
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Do not try “cough CPR,” drinking water, vigorous exercise, or other viral home remedies. They don’t treat a blocked coronary artery.
🚨 Know the symptoms
Possible heart-attack symptoms include pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest, shortness of breath, cold sweating, nausea, dizziness, or discomfort spreading to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or upper abdomen. Symptoms can be less typical in some people, including older adults and some women.
If the person becomes unresponsive and isn’t breathing normally, call emergency services, begin CPR, and use an AED if one is available.
The safest “10-second rule” is: recognize potentially serious symptoms and call for emergency help immediately. The sooner professional treatment begins, the better the chances of limiting heart damage.
