Heart attack question?

Question

If someone was having a heart attack, and their pulse sky rocketted up real high, would they be able to bring down their heart rate on their own without medical attention, if this was infact a heart attack?

No, this is NOT happening to me.

Thank you to anyone who answers!

Also note, this is not happening to anyone else either. It is just a question. Curiosity!!!

Answer 1

Oxygen will help. Clot-busters (if available) will help too. Tourniques round the upper arms and thighs will help too.
Deep and fast breathing will help, but the best method is to disregard all rules and get the patient to ER as fast as you can.
I have been there, seen the movie, and got the T-shirt. My pulse rose to 300 BPM. I survived (at 3.a.m) because my dear wife raced me to the hospital @ 75 MPH and yelled "He's having a heart attack!" If she'd waited for an ambulance I wouldn't be here 15 years later
She raced the Police to ER and won. God bless her. If she'd waited for Plod to do his Target bit, they'd have won and she'd be a widow.
P.S. - Just a note further. Bringing down the pulse rate isn't of itself a benefit, because raising the pulse is the brain's natural (and only available) response to try to raise the depleted blood supply, -not only to the heart itself, but also all other organs, including the brain. The high pulse rate is not the Bad Thing. The Bad Thing is the inability of the 'heart/brain/central nervous sysytem' combination to match "Supply" with "Demand". So reducing pulse rate - even if successful, is only a sign that what you're doing is right.

Answer 2

Heart Attack Red Flags:

1. Extreme fatigue In the days or even weeks before a heart attack, more than 70% of women experience debilitating, flulike exhaustion. You may suddenly feel too tired to cook dinner or lift your laptop.
2. Mild pain Rather than the elephant on the chest, women may feel less severe pain?and not always in the region of the heart. Pressure or achiness can occur in the breastbone, upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw.
3. Profuse sweating You may find yourself suddenly drenched in perspiration for no apparent reason, or your face may be pale or ashen.
4. Nausea or dizziness Prior to a heart attack, women often have indigestion or even vomit. You may also feel like you're about to pass out.
5. Breathlessness Almost 58% of women report panting or inability to carry on a conversation because they couldn't catch their breath.
6. Sleeplessness Nearly half of women have trouble falling asleep or wake up during the night in the weeks before a coronary.
7. Anxiety "Many women experience a sense of impending doom or fear before a heart attack," says Dr. Legato, though experts don't necessarily understand why. Nonetheless, it's real and it matters. "That's your body telling you to pay attention. Trust those instincts," she advises.

Answer 3

No, not on their own. Someone needs to be there to monitor the symptoms. Here are the steps:
1. Place a pillow 2 inches below the patient's head AND 2 inches under their feet. This allows for equal weight distribution and natural blood flow in the body. Even if there is a blockage, in case there is a heart attack occuring, the rest of the blood throughout the body has a better chance of even flow when using this method.
2. Have the observer get a bowl of cold water with ice cubes and a rag for the patient. Slowly, but liberally, apply the rag as though the patient is being given a sponge bath, for 20 minutes. Monitor all physical signs. If the sweating "look" hasn't diminished, in fact totally stopped, call 911 for assistance. This is HIGHLY important because this generally means that their blood pressure needs a medicine, that in this case should only be given by paramedics, to bring it down. Rapid pulse, when not controlled immediately. can lead to: a more serious heart problem and possible death, a stroke, or coma that the patient may or may not come out of. The 911 operator will stay on the phone until help from the paramedics arrives.

Answer 4

Gosh, this is an interesting question. First of all, if you or anyone is having chest pain or any symptoms that may be concerning for a heart attack please go to the emergency room.

Now - here's an interesting answer. Sometimes during stress your heart rate can skyrocket (can be due to a heart attack, panic attack, caffeine, etc.) It is sometimes due to SVT or super-ventricular tachycardia (something besides the heart's natural pacemaker is causing the heart to beat way too fast). If your heart ever enters this rhythm, you can try bearing down like you are having a bowel movement (this changes the pressure in the chest cavity and can sometimes break the rapid heart rate). You can try rubbing the carotid arteries on the neck (this should be done with medical supervision, especially in older patients that might have plaques building in their arteries), and you can try placing your hands in a bucket of ice water - also works on occasion.

Just a few ideas of how to break a rapid heart rate without medical intervention. Hope this answers your question - but doesn't substitute for seeing a doc if you or anyone thinks they may be having a heart attack!

Answer 5

Someone having a heart attack is no more likely to have a rapid heart beat (tachycardia) than someone who is not having a heart attack. A heart attack is referring to a state of tissue death related to a partial or complete lack of oxygen to the tissue. If in fact someone was having a heart attack and ended up with an electrical abnormality that caused a rapid heartbeat (due to ischemia/infarct) it would depend on the origin of the tachycardia. You could bring it down by yourself if it was part of what is called supraventricular tachycardia or at re-entry pattern but you have no way of telling if this is the case. Manuvers such as valsalva are indicated in the re-entry tachycardia patterns aka circular patterns because they break the circle by vagal nerve stimulation. You can research vagal stimulation to find out more about that. Certain types of arrythmias like atrial fibrillation/flutter and ventricular tachycardia won't be resolved by valsalva or other techniques and may require medication or electrical therapy to control and correct.

In summary the answer is maybe but it would depend on the rhythm and the origin. It is not something people should try on their own because the risks outweigh the reward. Always call 911 and let the professionals sort it out.

Answer 6

yes, they would be able to bring it down, when it wore out and burned up from trying to beat through the bloakage causing the fast heart rate. A hear does not just miraculuosly correct itself during a heart attack. A heart attack is a fatal battle for life, that you will likely loose without immediate medical attention.

A simple elevated heart rare in the abense of a heart attack is quite common and this will usually correct itself.

Answer 7

It would depend on what is causing the increase and how high it goes, how long it lasts. There is a Val Saulvo (probably misspelled) manuver where you take a deep breath and hold it while bearing down (like having a bowel movement). This is often effective in slowing the heart rate back to normal, but you should still have a check up with a doctor to find a cause and possible cure.

Answer 8

Michael Jackson did not have a heart attack. He experienced Cardiac Arrest and doctors could not revive him. Heart attack is not the same thing as Cardiac Arrest. The autopsy will begin tomorrow to determine why he went into Cardiac Arrest.

Answer 9

A heart attack is a pain in the chest that WILL NOT go during rest. its important to get medical attention quickly so the right treatment and better outcome in the long run. Angina is relieved by rest .

Answer 10

Whether they can or not, this in not something you should try to treat yourself.
Depending on what kind of medication they had on hand it is possible they could lower their heart rate. This alone WILL NOT treat a heart attack. Prompt medical attention can save your life and possibly prevent permanent heart damage.