Chest Pain First Aid PDF

Chest Pain: First Aid Causes of chest pain can vary from minor indigestion or stress, to a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. The exact cause of chest pain can be difficult to interpret. Heart Attack A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying blood and oxygen to the...

Chest Pain: First Aid Causes of chest pain can vary from minor indigestion or stress, to a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. The exact cause of chest pain can be difficult to interpret. Heart Attack A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying blood and oxygen to the heart becomes blocked or occluded so that the blood supply becomes severely reduced or cut off. This loss of blood flow injures heart muscle. A heart attack generally causes chest pain for more than 15 minutes, but it can also be “silent” and have no symptoms at all. Many people who suffer a heart attack have warning symptoms hours, days, or weeks in advance. The earliest predictor of an attack may be recurrent chest pain that is triggered by exertion and relieved by rest (angina). Someone having an attack may experience any or all of the following: « Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the center of the chest that may last several minutes or come and go and may be triggered by exertion and relieved by rest * Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen * Discomfort or pain spreading beyond the chest to shoulders, neck, jaw, teeth, or one or both arms « Shortness of breath « Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting « Sweating » Nausea If you or someone else may be having a heart attack: * Dial 911 or your local EM assistance number. Do not “tough out” the symptoms of a heart attack for more than five minutes. A person experiencing a heart attack should not drive, because driving while experiencing a heart attack may put the driver and others at risk. 12z