Chest pain: when it is an emergency and what to do first

Chest pain has many causes - acidity, muscle strain, anxiety, lung infection - and most of them are not dangerous. A few are. Knowing which is which buys time, and in a heart attack, time is heart muscle.

Signs that need emergency care now

Treat it as an emergency if the pain is heavy, squeezing or pressure-like rather than sharp; if it lasts more than a few minutes or keeps coming back; if it spreads to the left arm, jaw, neck or back; or if it comes with cold sweat, nausea, breathlessness or a sense that something is badly wrong.

Older adults, people with diabetes and women often have less typical symptoms. Unusual fatigue, breathlessness or upper-abdominal discomfort can be the main complaint, with little chest pain at all.

What to do while help is on the way

Call for an ambulance rather than driving yourself. Sit down and stay still. Loosen tight clothing. If the person is a known heart patient and has been prescribed a medicine such as sorbitrate for exactly this situation, they may take it as their doctor previously advised. Do not give anything by mouth to someone who is drowsy or vomiting.

If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start chest compressions and continue until help arrives.

Afterwards

Even if the pain settles, get it assessed. An ECG and a few blood tests can rule out the serious causes quickly, and a normal result is worth the trip.

This article is general information and not a substitute for examination by a doctor.