In the middle of a meeting, a colleague places a hand on their chest, turns pale, and says, “I’m probably just tired.” The common reflex — from the person themselves and those around them — is to wait and see: take a sip of water, sit down for a while, or assume it’s stress, heartburn, or indigestion. But with chest pain, “waiting and seeing” is often the most damaging choice.
UF Health notes that the average person waits about 3 hours after heart attack symptoms begin before seeking medical help. Major medical organizations agree on a consistent message: when a heart attack is suspected, every minute counts — and the decision shouldn’t rest on self-diagnosis.
Why You Shouldn’t Self-Diagnose Chest Pain
Mayo Clinic stresses that chest pain is hard to tell apart from other conditions, especially when it’s someone’s first time experiencing it. It can originate from the heart, lungs, muscles and bones, or digestive tract — and even physicians need an examination and tests to pinpoint the cause.
On top of that, a heart attack doesn’t always look like it does in the movies. Mayo Clinic notes that some people have little or no chest pain at all, and that symptoms can be subtler in women, people with diabetes, and older adults — for instance, nausea alone, or a brief, sharp pain in the neck, arm, or back. The American Heart Association (AHA) also points out that, in women, symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain may appear more often alongside chest discomfort.
Warning Signs That Call for Immediate Emergency Help
According to the AHA and Mayo Clinic, think heart attack and call for help when one or more of the following are present:
| Sign category | Description |
| Chest discomfort | Pressure, squeezing, tightness, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest; lasting more than a few minutes, or going away and coming back. Mayo Clinic notes heart attack chest pain typically lasts longer than 15 minutes |
| Spread to other areas | Pain or discomfort radiating to the shoulder, one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or upper abdomen |
| Shortness of breath | May occur with or without chest discomfort |
| Accompanying symptoms | Cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness or sudden dizziness, fatigue, heartburn- or indigestion-like discomfort |
| Change in mental status | Confusion, especially in older adults (UF Health) |
Another point worth noting: many people experience warning signs hours, days, or even weeks beforehand — for example, recurring chest pain or pressure that doesn’t ease with rest. These signals shouldn’t be ignored.
Initial Actions: Prioritize Calling for Help, Not Diagnosing
1. Call emergency services right away — even if you’re unsure
The AHA recommends calling emergency services even when you’re not certain it’s a heart attack. In Vietnam, the emergency number is 115. A key benefit: paramedics can begin assessing and treating the person as soon as they arrive — before reaching the hospital. Mayo Clinic also advises driving yourself only if there’s truly no other option, since a heart attack can trigger a dangerous heart rhythm while on the road.
2. Alert the right people at the workplace
Notify a manager, the occupational safety team, or the emergency response team if your workplace has one. Assign one person to meet the ambulance at the entrance or lobby, and another to retrieve an automated external defibrillator (AED) if the office has one — ready in case the person’s condition worsens.
3. Let the person rest — and don’t leave them alone
Help the person sit or lie in a comfortable position, limit exertion, and loosen tight clothing. According to UF Health, don’t leave the person alone (except briefly to call for help), and don’t let them talk you out of calling by insisting they’re fine. Stay on the line with the emergency operator if asked.
4. On aspirin and medication: only with guidance
This is a point where sources differ slightly, so caution is warranted. Mayo Clinic advises taking aspirin only if a healthcare professional or emergency operator says to, and never delaying the emergency call to look for aspirin. UF Health similarly notes it should only be taken if the person isn’t allergic and has no condition that makes aspirin dangerous, and that the 911 operator can help decide. Some other health bodies (such as the UK’s NHS and OHSU) advise chewing aspirin while waiting for the ambulance if there’s no allergy. For a layperson, the safest rule is: call for help first, then follow the operator’s or medical professional’s guidance — don’t decide on medication yourself. Someone with a prescription for nitroglycerin for a known heart condition may use it as directed by their own doctor.
5. Don’t give food or drink; don’t wait for symptoms to “pass”
UF Health advises against giving the person anything by mouth, except heart medication they’ve been prescribed. And don’t wait to see if the symptoms disappear on their own.
If the Person Collapses, Is Unresponsive, and Isn’t Breathing Normally
This is when the situation shifts from “chest pain” to potential cardiac arrest. Check for a response and breathing; if the person is unresponsive and not breathing, or only gasping, start CPR immediately — push hard and fast in the center of the chest — and use an AED as soon as one is available while waiting for emergency responders.
What Not to Do
- Assume it’s “just indigestion or stress” and wait to see.
- Let the person drive to the hospital or walk there alone.
- Use coin-scraping, massage, or other folk remedies instead of calling emergency services.
- Give food or drink, or medication, without guidance.
- Leave the person alone while they still have symptoms.
The Bottom Line
When chest pain strikes at work, the core principle isn’t to “figure out exactly what it is,” but to recognize the danger signs, call for help early, and support the person while waiting. Diagnosis belongs to medical professionals. A workplace with clear roles — who calls the emergency number, who meets the ambulance, who gets the AED, who stays with the person — can make a major difference in those first critical minutes.
This article synthesizes and paraphrases the sources below and is for general educational purposes only; it does not replace professional medical advice or care. If you suspect a heart attack, call emergency services immediately.
Sources referenced:
- Mayo Clinic — Heart attack: First aid; Chest pain: First aid; Heart attack symptoms: Know what’s a medical emergency (mayoclinic.org)
- American Heart Association — Warning Signs of Heart Attack; Get familiar with signs of a heart attack or stroke (heart.org)
- UF Health — Heart Attack First Aid (ufhealth.org)
- NHS (NI Direct) — Heart attack (nidirect.gov.uk)
- OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute — Heart Attack (ohsu.edu)