Medical experts say the first few minutes after a suspected heart attack are critical. Symptoms such as severe chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, or pain spreading to the arm, neck, or jaw should be treated as a medical emergency.

Doctors advise calling emergency medical services immediately. If the patient has no allergy to aspirin, no active bleeding, and has not been advised against it by a doctor, chewing an aspirin may help in some cases. However, nitroglycerin (Angised) should only be used if it has already been prescribed for that patient by a physician.

Experts also recommend keeping the patient calm, seated in a comfortable position, avoiding unnecessary movement, and ensuring rapid transport to a hospital for definitive treatment.