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Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.

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Heart Attack Treatment

Immediate treatment may include the following:

  • If available, 100% oxygen is immediately administered.
  • Give 1 aspirin to the person. Chewing the aspirin accelerates the anti -blood clotting properties.
  • If the person experiencing a heart attack has nitroglycerin available, place 1 tablet every 5 minutes under the person's tongue. Do not exceed 3 tablets. Assist the person by holding the nitroglycerin if he or she becomes lightheaded or his or her pulse weakens.

Following recovery from a heart attack, talk with a doctor about possible ongoing treatment with available medications.

more information from eMedicineHealth

WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth

Reviewed by Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD on May 24, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
© 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

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