Hypertensive patients may suffer myocardial infarction at home or workplace. Within the first few hours of an attack, various arrhythmias are highly likely to occur, which may trigger shock or heart failure. Random movement or rushed transportation to hospital greatly raises mortality risks. Proper on-site first aid can drastically reduce the death rate.
On-site Emergency Steps for Hypertensive Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
1. If a hypertensive patient suffers severe precordial chest pain with no obvious relief or even worsening symptoms after taking nitroglycerin preparations, acute myocardial infarction should be suspected.
2. Calm the patient down immediately. Let the patient lie flat on the spot or adopt a comfortable posture; minimize all unnecessary movement.
3. Administer oxygen right away if an oxygen bag is available.
4. Place nitroglycerin under the patient’s tongue, along with their regular antihypertensive medication. Sedatives and analgesics may be given as supplementary treatment.
5. Call the hospital immediately to request emergency medical staff to come to the scene.
6. In case of cardiac arrest: strike the precordial area sharply to stimulate cardiac resuscitation; perform external chest compressions to restore blood circulation; deliver mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration to relieve cerebral cortex hypoxia.
Expert Reminder: Strengthen Cardiovascular Protection While Lowering Blood Pressure
Many hypertensive patients hold a misunderstanding: they believe blood pressure is fully under control as long as antihypertensive drugs bring readings down, and any drug that lowers blood pressure is a good one.
In fact, reducing blood pressure is neither the sole goal of hypertension treatment nor the only standard to evaluate drug efficacy. Ideal antihypertensive drugs should lower blood pressure without disrupting lipid and glucose metabolism, protect the heart, brain, blood vessels and other organs, cause few side effects, and be suitable for long-term administration. Lowering blood pressure is merely a treatment measure; the core goal is to protect blood vessels and vital organs including the heart, brain, liver and kidneys.