Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

5 Cardiovascular Emergencies, CPR and AED It can be hard for even a doctor in a hospital to tell the difference between the pain of angina and that of a heart attack. Therfore, the first aid for angina and a heart attack are the same. Heart Attack/AMI The pain from a heart attack (or acute myocardial infarction AMI) is caused by the actual death of heart cells when they are cut off from oxygen after blood flow is obstructed to an area. Once dead, heart cells cannot be revived so immediate medical treatment in an emergency department is critical.

This usually occurs during periods of physical or emotional stress when the heart is working harder. Sudden fear, anxiety or a large meal may also trigger an attack. When the increased demand for oxygen lessens, such as when exercise stops, the pain usually goes away. Angina goes away with rest, medical oxygen, and/or a medication called nitroglycerin, all of which decrease the need for, or increase the amount of oxygen perfusion to the heart. Stable Angina refers to angina that follows an established pattern, either with initiating factors or alleviating treatments. The First aider usually becomes involved when the patient is experiencing their first angina attack or when things that normally alleviate their angina don’t work, such as resting and taking prescribed nitroglycerin medication. As with asthma and allergies, you may need to assist the patient with their medication.

person suffering an AMI

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