Heart Attacks

Heart attacks are a rising medical emergency in India. The cases of the younger population of India getting heart attacks are more common than in the rest of the globe.

In 2015, more than 2.1 million deaths occurred in India due to cardiovascular health-related issues. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack and relevant first aid that can be undertaken during the emergency. You can prevent death and save a life if you know what to do in such a situation.

Essentially, a heart attack is a medical emergency when the blood flow towards the heart of a person is severely blocked. Usually, a part of the heart will not be receiving enough blood flow during such an attack. This occurs due to a blockage in one of the blood vessels or coronary arteries of the heart. Without enough blood supply, the heart muscle will slowly begin to die. If not resolved immediately, the damage can lead to the death of the person as the heart stops functioning.

In case of a heart attack, you should call emergency medical services for quick assistance, while also providing the patient with relevant first aid help. Call MedCab emergency ambulance services for quick medical assistance and ambulance help anywhere in India. Read on to understand the symptoms of a heart attack and the steps you can take to help a person having a heart attack.

What are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack?

To be able to help someone having a heart attack, it is important to be aware of the warning signs of a heart attack. Heart attacks usually have some common symptoms and warning signs.

Some of the common symptoms of a heart attack include the following –

•  Discomfort in the chest – The discomfort usually occurs in the middle or left side of the chest. The discomfort may not be consistent and can come and go. The discomfort caused by a heart attack can feel like a squeezing in the chest, or pain, or a sort of fulness in the chest.
• Sudden Shortness of Breath – You may suddenly feel a struggle to breathe normally.
• Upper Body Discomfort - Discomfort in the neck, jaw, back, shoulder, or arm
•  Light-headedness – You may begin to feel very dizzy or faint. Weakness may also be accompanied by light-headedness.
• Other symptoms can include a feeling of nausea, irregular heartbeats, cold sweats, and feeling very tired.

When you catch the early signs of a heart attack, you can easily take urgent steps to help your loved one. It is important to call an ambulance service right away, so that the patient is quickly transported to the hospital. MedCab offers fast ambulance services which can be called on their emergency ambulance number at 18008-908-208.

What Can You Do?

If you are wondering how you can help someone having a heart attack, there are several things you can do in such a situation.

• Call 108 – 108 is the free emergency ambulance number in India. Ambulance help is sent by the government when you call the toll free number. You can also call MedCab’s emergency ambulance services which are available 24/7 in all major Indian cities.
• Let the person sit in a relaxed position and loosen any tight clothing.
• Aspirin – It is recommended to chew on a full dose of aspirin (325 mg). Before giving the aspirin, ensure the person is not allergic to the medicine.
• CPR – If the person is unresponsive, it may be important to give CPR. CPR involves putting the lower part of your palm in the middle of the person’s chest, then pushing hard and fast while allowing the chest to rise with each push. This should be repeated 100 to 120 times in a minute. CPR should be undertaken till the person becomes conscious again, while emergency ambulance help is on the way.

These are some of the emergency first aid steps you can take to help a person during a heart attack. It is important to know what you can do at the time of a heart attack to take timely action. Time and quick action are of utmost importance at the time of a heart attack. By understanding the symptoms and learning important first aid assistance like CPR, you may be able to save your loved one’s life.

Besides calling 108, you can also call MedCab’s emergency ambulance service. MedCab ambulance services have relevant first aid equipment to help someone having a heart attack, such as defibrillators and ECG monitors.

 MedCab ambulance services arrive with trained paramedics who can assess the situation and give relevant first-aid care during transportation of the patient to the hospital. MedCab is one of India’s top emergency ambulance services due to its quick response rate and fast arrival. Save the MedCab 24/7 the emergency ambulance number 18008-908-208; and download the MedCab mobile app for quick help during medical emergencies such as a heart attack.