Do you know what to do if someone is having a heart attack? I'll explain it to you here.

Although many people fear having a heart attack—especially if they’ve already had one or suffer from a chronic condition, such as high blood pressure—not everyone knows what to do when a heart attack occurs.

It’s important for you to know that, despite what many people think, a heart attack isn’t always fatal.

Symptoms

When we talk about a heart attack, we’re referring to a blockage of an organ’s tissues due to the interruption of blood flow. In this article, we’ll focus on myocardial infarction.

Signs that you may be having a heart attack:

Difficulty breathing.
Palpitations.
Feeling weak or fatigued.
Chest pain.
Cold sweat all over the body with dizziness and disorientation.
Tingling or numbness in the arm.

Some of these symptoms can occur in other situations, such as low blood pressure. But if all of these symptoms occur together, you may be having a heart attack.

How to react to a heart attack?

If you’re driving, pull over; stop, get out, and sit down.
If you are walking, sit down.
If you find yourself sitting, stay calm in your seat.

In each case, it’s important to remain calm and ask for help. Then, loosen any tight clothing, such as your tie or belt. If you’re taking medication for heart conditions, ask someone to help you take it. Of course, you should have a prescription for it if you experience acute pain.

What should you do if someone else is having a heart attack?

If it’s not you who has had a heart attack, but someone else, please help as much as you can.

Things you shouldn’t do