Emergency Heart Attack Care: What to Do, What to Avoid, and How Medications Help

When someone is having a heart attack, a medical emergency caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle. Also known as myocardial infarction, it doesn’t always feel like a movie scene—no clutching chest, no dramatic collapse. Often, it’s just discomfort, nausea, or a strange fatigue that won’t go away. Acting fast can mean the difference between life and permanent damage.

Time is everything. Every minute without oxygen to the heart kills millions of cells. That’s why CPR, a life-saving technique that keeps blood moving when the heart stops pumping effectively is critical if the person becomes unresponsive. You don’t need to be a doctor to do it right—hands-only CPR, with firm pushes in the center of the chest, can buy precious minutes until paramedics arrive. And if the person is conscious and has no allergy, giving them a single aspirin, a common over-the-counter drug that thins blood and reduces clotting during a heart attack (chewed, not swallowed whole) can reduce damage. Many people don’t realize aspirin isn’t just for headaches—it’s one of the few medications proven to improve survival during an active heart attack.

Another key player is nitroglycerin, a fast-acting medication that opens narrowed arteries to improve blood flow to the heart. If the person has been prescribed it for angina, they should take it as directed—usually under the tongue. But don’t give it to someone who hasn’t been told to use it. Mixing it with erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra can drop blood pressure to deadly levels. And never wait to see if symptoms fade. Heart attack signs can come and go, but the damage keeps building. Pain in the jaw, back, or arm—even without chest pain—is just as dangerous. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes often have subtler symptoms, like shortness of breath or extreme tiredness, which are easily mistaken for the flu or stress.

What you shouldn’t do matters just as much. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital. Don’t wait to call 911 because you’re not sure. Don’t give someone coffee, alcohol, or food. Don’t assume it’s just indigestion. Emergency responders have tools and training you don’t—like defibrillators and clot-busting drugs—and they can start treatment the moment they arrive. The sooner they get there, the better the outcome.

This collection brings together real, practical advice on what works during a heart attack and what doesn’t. You’ll find clear breakdowns of how medications like aspirin and nitroglycerin function, what to do when someone collapses, and how to recognize symptoms that aren’t obvious. There’s also info on drug interactions, like how certain painkillers or supplements can interfere with heart treatments, and how to prepare for emergencies before they happen. Whether you’re caring for someone with heart disease or just want to know how to act when seconds count, these posts give you the facts you need—no fluff, no guesswork.