How to Assist a Heart Attack Victim


ur heart is the most vital organ in the body. Not just does it pump blood to the rest of the body; a healthy heart is also the indicator of good health in the long run. iDiva has already given you tips to keep your heart healthy and suggested foods to keep it happy.

With this Sunday being World Heart Day, here's how you can help a friend or a relative when he/she suffers from a heart attack.

1. Call an ambulance. That should be the priority.

2. Don't panic. Ask the person suffering from the attack to try and relax. This will help reduce the damage to his/her heart.

3. Give the person an aspirin (300mg). Ask him/her to chew it or keep it under the tongue. If consumed with water, the tablet will take longer to react. Aspirin will reduce the aggression in the blood platelets (cells) and improve circulation.

4. You could also give the patient Sorbitrate (5mg). This tablet again, should be kept under the person's tongue. If the chest pain persists, you can give up to three tablets within the interval of five minutes. It is advisable for a person with heart-related disease to carry Sorbitrate (5mg) tablets with him/her. The tablet could reduce blood pressure and cause giddiness. If the patient feels giddy they should stop taking the tablet.

5. Other symptoms of a heart attack are vomiting and a burning stomach coupled with pain in the chest and upper arm. Do not confuse it with acidity.

6. Do not let the patient walk to the doctor. Always wait for the ambulance to arrive or a neighbour or a relative to help drive the person to the nearest hospital/nursing home with an intensive care unit (ICU).

7. If the patient collapses, revive him/her with CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Lock lips with the patient and gently exhale air into his/her lungs.

8. If the person gets sweaty or weak, get him/her to lie down and support his legs with two pillows.

9. Most importantly, even if the attack subsides, make sure the person is taken to the nearest nursing home/hospital with an ICU where an ECG (Electro cardiogram) can be taken. The doctor will then give him/her an injection to dissolve the blockage or conduct an angioplasty depending on the severity of the attack. Taking the patient to the nearest hospital an hour within the attack will reduce the amount of damage to his/her heart.

10. Keeping numbers of a few ambulance services in your area is also a wise thing to do.


Remember these tips to help someone suffering from a heart attack. A healthy lifestyle with healthy eating habits and adequate exercise and rest will keep your heart healthy in the long run.