4 ways to survive a heart attack when you're alone

September 29th is World Heart Day. Every year, this day is observed exclusively for cardiac patients and heart health. On World Heart Day 2018, many campaigns and discussions aim to raise awareness of heart health, encourage them to go for preventive health checkups and help them learn important signs of their heart. The symptoms of a heart attack can range from mild to severe and it often happens that a person does not know a heart attack. A heart attack usually starts slowly and causes mild pain and discomfort. These are warning signs of a heart attack before they actually hit you. Some of the warning signs of a heart attack are chest pain (especially in the center – the one that lasts more than a few minutes, back and forth), discomfort in the upper parts of the body (neck, jaw, arms, back, belly). shortness of breath and unusual sensations such as vomiting, nausea and vertigo.

Read also: Are the symptoms of heart attack different in women?

If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack and you are alone, here is what you need to do:

1. Take an aspirin: As far as you know, you can opt for a normal dose of aspirin because it helps to slow down the clotting ability of the blood. When you have a heart attack, aspirin slows blood clotting and reduces the size of blood clots.

Aspirin slows blood clotting in case of heart attack
Photo credit: iStock

2. Call an ambulance: You must call emergency medical services as soon as possible. If there is anyone with you, ask them to stay until the arrival of the ambulance. People in emergency medical services are trained to revive people suffering from a heart attack.

Also read: 6 common symptoms of heart attack in men

3. Water and cayenne pepper: If you suffer from a heart attack when you are alone, you can drink a glass of water with 1 tsp. In cayenne pepper tea. Cayenne pepper acts as a stimulant to increase heart rate. It balances blood circulation and facilitates blood circulation throughout the body. However, there is no scientific proof of how this can be helpful.

4. Cough CPR: Breathing deeply and coughing deeply can increase your blood pressure for a second or two. It is thought that this can provide more blood to your brain. However, the American Heart Association is cough CPR because it can not be used for a person who does not react during a heart attack.

Read also: What is a silent heart attack?

So, if you have a heart attack while you're alone, the best thing to do is take an aspirin and ask for emergency help. Also prevent the occurrence of a heart attack by adopting a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking, reducing your alcohol intake and exercising regularly.

Disclaimer: This content, including tips, provides only generic information. It does not replace in any case a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.