Rushing a person having a heart attack can endanger his life further.

The videos are going viral. By now, you have probably watched the last video of the popular singer KK. When he complained of chest discomfort, he was rushed out of the concert where he was performing and immediately taken to Calcutta Medical Research Institute. He was declared "dead on arrival". 

This may sound shocking but the organizers and managers might have actually endangered KK life further by making him run to the car. 

Take a look at the video once again.

KK was visibly in discomfort. He was showing typical signs of a a heart attack. 

During a heart attack, a person's heart rate may be increased or may remain the same. An increased heart rate is not a specific sign of a heart attack. 

Do not panic

When someone near you has signs or symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, the first thing for you is to stay calm while taking measures to help the person. 

By creating a panic situation around KK and making him run, what people did was this. They put his body in a further stressful condition. This is expected to have increased his heart rate. 

When the heart rate increases, it means the heart is beating faster. It is working harder to pump the blood. As a result, the heart's own need for oxygen increases. 

Damage to the heart

When a heart attack occurs, the heart muscles are damaged due to lack of oxygen. The amount and severity of the damage depends on several factors. 

According to the American Heart Association, it depends on: 

• Size of the area supplied by the blocked artery
• Oxygen need of the heart muscles
• Time between the heart attack and the start of treatment

The damaged area of the heart heals over several weeks by forming a scar tissue. Heart is a very powerful muscle. Even if some part of the heart may be scarred after a heart attack, the rest of the heart continues to pump blood into different parts of the body. 

The damage however, makes the heart weak and it is unable to pump blood as efficiently as before. 

Heart rate can sometimes predict death rate. 

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, when the heart rate at admission is high (more than 80 beats per minute), it is significantly associated with in-hospital death. 

Exercise and stress are both known to increase the heart rate. Stress during a heart attack also increases the blood pressure and the heart's need for more oxygen. 

What to do?

If you think someone is having a heart attack, here are some things you can do. 

** Have the person sit down, rest and try to keep calm. Ensure they are comfortable, sitting on the floor and leaning against a chair or a wall. Ask them to keep their knees folded. Place pillows below the knees. Sitting eases the strain on the heart. It will also ensure they do not hurt themselves if they collapse.

**Loosen any tight clothing such as a belt or a necktie. This will make it easier for the person to breathe. 

**People who have angina (a squeezing chest pain) are at an increased risk of heart attack. They are prescribed angina medications such as nitroglycerin. Ask if the person takes any chest pain medicines, such as nitoglycerin for a known heart condition. Help them take the medicine. 

**If the pain does not go away promptly with rest or within 3 minutes of taking the chest pain medicine, it is safer to pressume that it is a heart attack. Call emergency. That's 911 if you are in the USA and 102 for ambulance service in India. 

**A tablet of nitroglycerine will usually relieve the pain within 1 to 5 minutes. If it does not, while you are waiting for emergency help to arrive, give another nitroglycerine tablet after 5 minutes. 

**If the person is not on an angina medication or the medicine is not available, ask them if they are allergic to aspirin or have any medical condition where aspirin must not be given. Once you know it is okay to give them aspirin, you can give them 325 mg of aspirin tablet. Ask them to chew it slowly. Time is critical during a heart attack. Instead of swallowing the whole tablet, if they chew it slowly and then swallow, it will be absorbed faster and will be more effective. Aspirin is a blood thinner. It helps to remove the blockage in the artery. Aspirin takes about 15 minutes to start its effect. So, remember to call an ambulance. 

**If the person becomes unconscious or unresponsive, start CPR without delay. 

What not to do?

Do not give aspirin without checking. Give an aspirin only if you know the person is not allergic to aspirin or does not have a medical condition where aspirin is contraindicated or can cause serious side effects. 

Do not leave the person alone except to call for help, if needed. 

Do not allow the person to convince you not to call for emergency help. 

Do not wait to see if symptoms go away. A heart attack is an emergency. 

Do not panic though. Only if you are calm can you keep the person calm and rested till help arrives.