🚨 What to do immediately
1. Stop what you’re doing.
Sit down and rest in a comfortable position. Avoid walking around or exerting yourself.
2. Call emergency services immediately.
Tell the dispatcher you suspect a heart attack and give your location. Put your phone on speaker if needed. In Pakistan, Rescue 1122 operates in Punjab.
3. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Unlock the door if you can do so safely. If someone is nearby, ask them to meet the ambulance. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
What about aspirin or coughing forcefully?
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Aspirin: Emergency dispatchers may recommend chewing aspirin if appropriate, but it is not safe for everyone. Call first and follow their guidance.
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Forceful coughing: Do not rely on “cough CPR.” It is not a proven self-treatment for a heart attack and may delay lifesaving care.
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If you collapse and become unresponsive: Someone nearby should call emergency services, begin CPR, and use an AED if available.
Remember: Heart attack symptoms can include chest pressure, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, or sudden weakness. Symptoms can occur without severe chest pain.
If you suspect a heart attack right now, call emergency services immediately rather than continuing to read.
