If someone with suspected heart attack suddenly becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, this may indicate cardiac arrest, which is different from a heart attack but can occur as a complication.

Call emergency services immediately if you haven't already.

Follow the dispatcher's instructions.

If the person is not breathing normally, begin CPR if you are able.

For an adult who suddenly collapses, hands-only CPR involves pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, should be used if one is immediately available. Turn it on and follow its spoken instructions.

Do not delay CPR while searching for medications or home remedies.

Why Every Minute Matters

Heart muscle needs a continuous supply of oxygen.

When a coronary artery becomes blocked, the affected heart tissue can become injured.

The longer the blood supply remains restricted, the greater the potential for permanent damage.

This is why medical professionals emphasize rapid treatment.

Depending on the type of heart attack and the hospital's findings, treatment may involve medications, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, stent placement, or other interventions.

The appropriate treatment cannot be determined safely at home.

Not Every Heart Attack Looks the Same

This is one of the most important things to understand.

Some people experience obvious chest pressure.

Others may primarily notice shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, unusual fatigue, or discomfort in the back or jaw.

Some people may mistake symptoms for:

• Indigestion

• Heartburn

• Anxiety

• Muscle strain

• A respiratory infection

• Food poisoning

That is why the overall pattern matters.

If symptoms are new, concerning, persistent, or associated with several warning signs, don't assume you know the cause.

Heartburn or Heart Attack?

Chest discomfort can be particularly confusing because acid reflux can feel similar to heart-related pain.

Heartburn may cause a burning sensation behind the breastbone, particularly after eating or when lying down.

A heart attack, however, can also cause burning, pressure, squeezing, fullness, or discomfort that resembles indigestion.

There is no safe home test that can reliably distinguish the two.

When in doubt, seek urgent medical assessment.

It is better to have chest discomfort evaluated and discover that it was reflux than to dismiss a heart attack as indigestion.