Characteristic signs (symptoms) of a heart attack (myocardial infarction):
- suddenly (paroxysmal) arising pressing, squeezing, burning, breaking pain in the chest (behind the sternum), lasting more than 5 minutes;
- similar pains are often observed in the left shoulder (forearm), left shoulder blade, left half of the neck and lower jaw, both shoulders, both arms, lower part of the sternum along with the upper abdomen;
- lack of air, shortness of breath, sharp weakness, cold sweats, nausea often occur together, sometimes follow or precede discomfort / chest pain;
- often these manifestations of the disease develop against the background of physical or psycho-emotional stress, but more often with some interval after them.
Uncharacteristic signs that are often confused with a heart attack:
- stabbing, cutting, pulsating, drilling, constant aching for many hours and not changing their intensity of pain in the region of the heart or in a specific clearly defined area of the chest.
Algorithm of urgent actions:
- If you or someone suddenly have the above characteristic signs of a heart attack, even with a weak or moderate intensity, which last more than 5 minutes, do not hesitate, immediately call an ambulance team.
Do not wait more than 10 minutes – in such a situation
It’s life-threatening!
If you have symptoms of a heart attack, and there is no way to call an ambulance, then ask someone to take you to the hospital – this is the only right decision. Never get behind the wheel yourself, except for no other choice.
In the best case, when a heart attack occurs, it is necessary to follow the instructions received from the attending physician.
If there is no such instruction, then it is necessary to act according to the following algorithm:
- call an ambulance team;
- sit down (preferably in a chair with armrests) or go to bed with a raised headboard, take 0.25 g of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) (chew a tablet, swallow) and 0.5 mg of nitroglycerin (tablet / capsule put under the tongue, pre-bite the capsule, do not swallow); free the neck and ensure the flow of fresh air (open the windows or window);
- if after 5-7 minutes. after taking acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and nitroglycerin, the pain persists, it is necessary to take nitroglycerin a second time;
- if 10 minutes after taking the second dose of nitroglycerin, the pain persists, it is necessary to take nitroglycerin a third time;
- if, after the first or subsequent doses of nitroglycerin, there is a sharp weakness, sweating, shortness of breath, it is necessary to lie down, raise your legs (on a roller, etc.), drink 1 glass of water and then, as with a severe headache, do not take nitroglycerin anymore;
- if the patient has previously taken drugs that lower cholesterol in the blood from the group of statins (simvastatin, lovastatin fluvastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvostatin), give the patient his usual daily dose and take the drug with you on the road.
ATTENTION!
A patient with a heart attack is strictly prohibited:
- get up, walk, smoke and eat until the special permission of the doctor;
- you can not take aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) with intolerance to it (allergic reactions), as well as with a clear exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
- you can not take nitroglycerin with sharp weakness, sweating, as well as with severe headache, dizziness, acute impairment of vision, speech or coordination of movements.