Heart Health
Should I take an aspirin if I think I'm having a heart attack?
Ask the doctor
I've heard that if you think you're having a heart attack, you should call 911 and then chew a regular aspirin while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Is that still considered good advice?The main reason? You might not actually be having a heart attack, and aspirin could make things worse. For example, sudden, severe chest pain may result from a tear in the aorta (the large artery that arches out of the heart), causing dangerous bleeding. Aspirin could make this problem worse because it prevents cell fragments (platelets) from clumping together, decreasing the blood's ability to clot.
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About the Author
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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