see also Heart Attack
The symptoms of a heart attack can be dramatic: severe constricting or bursting pain in the chest, sometimes spreading to the arms, neck, and back; faintness and shortness of breath; irregular pulse; blue lips; collapse and unconsciousness. Breathing and heartbeat may stop. If the casualty is fully conscious and has medicine for angina, help them to take it or give 300 mg of aspirin and advise them to chew it slowly.
If the victim remains conscious, prop him or her up in a half-sitting position with knees bent. Contact Emergency Medical Services. Calm and reassure the person as much as you can, keep him or her warm and comfortable, loosen any tight clothing, and keep a careful watch on breathing and pulse.
If the casualty is unconscious, check breathing and pulse and if necessary give cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (see Breathing, Circulation). As soon as you judge breathing and heartbeat to be regular, put the person in the recovery position (see Unconsciousness). Then contact Emergency Medical Services.
Specific remedies to be given every 2-5 minutes (depending on severity of attack) for up to 6 doses
- Fear of dying, restlessness, numbness Aconite 30c
- Chest feels as if there is an iron band around it, pain in left arm, feeling of weight on chest makes breathing difficult Cactus 30c
- Violent chest pain which extends into fingers, gasping for breath numbness, pulse rapid and feeble Latrodectus 30c
- Heart throbs and surges as if about to burst through chest wall, faintness, anxiety, sweating Spongia 30c
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