What is the immediate action for chest pain?

Before an ambulance arrives, you can help paramedics by doing your best to follow this advice:

Table of Contents Show

What is a heart emergency?
What to do if you think someone is having a heart attack
What to do if you think someone is having a cardiac arrest
What to do if you think someone is having an angina attack
2. Cold pack
3. Hot drinks
4. Baking soda
6. Apple cider vinegar
8. Lie down
10. Turmeric milk

if you’re outside, stay with the patient until help arrives
phone 999 again if the patient’s condition worsens
phone 999 again if your location changes
if you’re phoning from home or work, ask someone to open the doors and tell ambulance staff where they're needed
stay calm - the Scottish Ambulance Service is there to help you

What is a heart emergency?

Heart emergencies include:

Phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if you think you or someone else is experiencing any of these heart emergencies.

What to do if you think someone is having a heart attack

Once you've phoned 999, ask the patient to sit and rest until the ambulance arrives.
If the patient isn't allergic to aspirin and there's some nearby, they can chew 1 tablet (300mg).
Stay with the patient until the ambulance arrives.
When the paramedics arrive, tell them if the patient has taken aspirin.

What to do if you think someone is having a cardiac arrest

Phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if someone stops breathing, loses consciousness or doesn't respond to stimulation.
After you’ve phoned for an ambulance, the call handler will talk you through how to do chest compressions.
If there's more than one person with the patient, someone can collect a defibrillator for the patient if there's one nearby.

What to do if you think someone is having an angina attack

Tell the patient to stop what they're doing and sit down.
Ensure the patient takes one dose of their glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray or tablets. After doing this, wait 5 minutes.
If the pain or breathlessness continue, the patient should take a second dose of GTN. After this, wait another 5 minutes.
If the pain or breathlessness don't ease, phone 999.
If the patient isn't allergic to aspirin and there's some nearby, they can chew 1 tablet (300mg).
When the paramedics arrive, tell them if the patient has taken aspirin.

Medically Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH on October 26, 2020

Call 911
For Angina
For GERD (Acid Reflux)

For possible heart attack symptoms and treatment, see Heart Attack Treatment.

1. Treat With Nitroglycerin

If the person gets angina and has been prescribed nitroglycerin:

Dissolve 1 nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue (or use nitroglycerin spray under the tongue).

If the person still has angina, call 911.

If the person has been diagnosed with chronic stable angina:

Dissolve 1 nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue (or use nitroglycerin spray under the tongue).
Repeat every 5 minutes until the person has taken 3 tablets in 15 minutes.
If the person still has angina after 3 doses, call 911

2. Follow Up

If the person goes to the hospital:

An emergency department doctor will examine the person and run tests to see if the chest pain stems from a heart attack or another cause. Tests may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and blood tests.

Inform the person’s doctor about the chest pain and ER visit.

Call 911 if: The person has possible heart attack symptoms, such as shortness of breath, flushed sweating, nausea or vomiting, or arm or jaw pain. Heart attacks can be mistaken for GERD.

1. Treat With Over-the-Counter Antacids

2. Follow Up

If the person goes to the hospital, an emergency department doctor will examine the person and run tests to see if the chest pain stems from a heart attack or another cause. Tests may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and blood tests.

Inform the person’s doctor about the chest pain and ER visit.

A heart attack can be the first thing a person thinks of when they have chest pain. However, there are many potential causes of pain in the chest area. No matter the cause, a person usually wants to eliminate the pain quickly.

Home remedies for heart pain are meant to treat infrequent chest pain that is due to digestive issues, such as gas, muscle strains, and anxiety.

It may not be easy to tell the difference between this benign pain and more serious conditions. When in doubt, people should always seek medical attention.

A person must receive urgent medical care when:

heart or chest pain feels crushing, tight, squeezing, or heavy
a person suspects they are having a heart attack
shortness of breath is experienced alongside chest pain

Share on PinterestAlmonds might help with acid reflux and may help to prevent heart disease.

There are several things a person can try at home to help alleviate heart pain when it occurs and to prevent future occurrences.

The home remedies below should only be used when a person has been examined by a doctor and is certain that the chest pain is not caused by something serious, such as a heart attack.

Also, these remedies are not meant for a person with angina. People with angina should follow the treatment given to them by their doctor.

1. Almonds

When acid reflux is to blame for the heart pain, eating a few almonds or drinking a cup of almond milk may help.

There is not much scientific evidence to support these claims around almonds. Instead, most of the evidence is anecdotal with people passing on their knowledge or experience to others.

One thing to keep in mind is that almonds are high in fat, which can cause acid reflux. If this is the case, almonds could actually make the pain worse.

However, some research indicates that almond consumption may help with the prevention of heart disease. Though almonds may not stop the immediate pain, they can have a positive impact on overall heart health.

2. Cold pack

A common cause of heart or chest pain is a muscle strain. In these cases, a person can have pain in the chest due to strain from exercise, other activities, or blunt trauma.

In any of these cases, icing the area with a cold pack is a widely accepted method to help reduce swelling and stop the pain.

3. Hot drinks

A hot drink may help to eliminate gas when a person’s pain is due to gas or bloating. The hot liquid can also help boost digestion.

Some drinks may be better than others in this respect. For example, hibiscus tea has been found to have several benefits beyond helping with bloating.

Hibiscus may also play a role in lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol. These added benefits may help prevent heart complications.

4. Baking soda

Another popular recommendation for heart pain is to add baking soda to warm or cool water. The result is an alkaline solution that can help reduce the acid in the stomach if that is causing the pain.

However, a study in 2013 concluded that baking soda may be good to treat heartburn but may have adverse effects on the heart overall.

5. Garlic

Share on PinterestGarlic may help to reverse heart disease.

Garlic is claimed to be a remedy for chest pain, although there is no science to back this up.

People can mix a clove or two of minced garlic with a glass of warm milk. Instead of drinking the garlic, they should chew the pieces to gain the maximum benefit.

Research has shown that garlic can help to reverse heart disease and reduce the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

6. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy meant to help with acid reflux. People claim that drinking it before or after a meal may prevent acid reflux. Though a popular theory, there is little evidence to support the claims.

Apple cider vinegar has minimal side effects, but people taking blood thinner may want to avoid its use, as it can also thin the blood.

7. Aspirin

A person may want to take aspirin if they have chest pain. A pain reliever, such as aspirin, can help alleviate the heart pain associated with less severe cases.

Research also indicates that consistent use of low-dose aspirin may help prevent heart attacks. But aspirin remains controversial due to the increased risk of bleeding.

8. Lie down

When heart pain strikes, lying down immediately with the head elevated above the body may bring some relief. A slightly upright position helps when the pain is due to reflux.

9. Ginger

Similarly to other herbs, ginger is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects. More importantly, research indicates that ginger may help to ease stomach issues and prevent vomiting.

10. Turmeric milk

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that may alleviate pain symptoms in the chest.

Turmeric milk combines about a teaspoon of turmeric spice with a cup of warm milk. The mixture should be drunk before bed to help alleviate pain.

For long-term use, studies indicate the compounds in turmeric can help with preventing heart disease. The spice has also been shown to reduce cholesterol.

Share on PinterestHeart pain may be caused by GERD or acid reflux.

There are many potential causes of heart pain in the chest. Some require medical attention immediately. Others are much more benign and may respond to a home remedy.

Some of the common causes of heart pain include:

heart attack
stable angina
unstable angina
heartburn
acid reflux or GERD
muscle strain
injury to muscles

Heart attacks require emergency medical attention. If a person thinks they may be having a heart attack, they should see a doctor immediately.

Angina, which results from the coronary arteries being clogged or narrowed, may also require medical attention and treatment.

The main concern when chest pain occurs is a heart attack.

People should be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack and seek immediate medical attention if a heart attack is suspected.

Symptoms may include the following in addition to chest pain:

pain in other areas of the upper body, including neck, jaw, or arm
shortness of breath
nausea
lightheadedness
cold sweat

Women should be aware that they are less likely to experience intense chest pain than men. They are more likely to have uncomfortable pressure or squeezing in their chest than pain. Women are also more likely to experience the other symptoms of a heart attack than a man.

A person should seek immediate medical attention at the first signs of a heart attack.

Also, a person should not use a home remedy as the first line of defense.

If the pain is new or unusual, people should seek out a medical diagnosis to ensure it is not due to something more severe than heartburn or gas.