When There's Chest Pain
Call 112 / 108 immediately for chest pain that is severe, lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw. Don't wait it out, and don't drive to hospital yourself if an ambulance is available.
⚠️ "It's probably just gas" is how people lose the time that matters most
Acidity and heartburn are common, and most chest discomfort really is that. But this is exactly why heart attacks get missed — the two can feel similar, antacids can even bring brief relief from both, and "it's probably just acidity" is one of the most common things people say to themselves right before a heart attack turns serious.
More likely just acidity
- Burning, rises after eating or lying down
- Eases clearly with antacid, within 15-30 min
- No sweating, breathlessness, or spreading pain
Treat as the heart
- Pressure, tightness or squeezing — not just burning
- Sweating, nausea, breathlessness, or dizziness with it
- Spreads to arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach
- Comes with exertion, or doesn't fully go away
In older adults and diabetics especially, a heart attack can happen with no chest pain at all — just unusual fatigue, breathlessness, or a vague sense that something is wrong. If you genuinely can't tell which this is, that's normal — treat it as the heart and call. Being wrong about acidity costs an antacid; being wrong about a heart attack costs time you can't get back.
"If you feel tightness or heaviness in your chest, or the pain spreads to your arm or jaw, or you feel sweaty or sick with it — call [family member] straight away, even if you think it's just gas. Taking an antacid and feeling a bit better doesn't mean it wasn't your heart. It's always fine to call and be wrong. It's not fine to wait and find out too late."
Agree on this now: any chest discomfort gets a same-day call to family, even if it passed, even if antacids "worked." A parent who mentions it after the fact, once it's already resolved, is far more useful to know about than one who never mentions it at all.
Warning signs of a possible heart attack
- Chest pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing — not always sharp pain.
- Pain spreading to the left arm, both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, light-headedness.
- In older adults and women, symptoms can be subtle — unusual fatigue or breathlessness alone can matter.
While waiting for the ambulance
- Have them stop all activity and sit or rest in a comfortable position, leaning back.
- Loosen tight clothing; keep them calm and reassured.
- Follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions about any medication — don't give anything on your own guess.
- Gather their medicines list, known heart conditions, and ID for the hospital.
People lose precious time talking themselves out of it — "it's probably gas/acidity." With heart attacks, acting early saves heart muscle and lives. It is always better to call and be reassured than to wait and be wrong.
General information only, not medical advice. In any emergency, call 112 / 108 and follow the dispatcher's instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
My elderly parent in India has chest pain — what do I do right now?
Treat all new chest pain as a possible heart attack until proven otherwise. Immediately: (1) Call 108 (ambulance). (2) If they're conscious and not allergic, and there's aspirin available, 300mg chewed (not swallowed whole) can help — but only if someone medically trained advises this. (3) Keep them still and calm. (4) Loosen tight clothing. (5) Stay on the phone with them or have someone with them. (6) Call the nearest hospital to say a possible heart attack case is coming. Do not let them drive themselves.
What are heart attack symptoms in elderly women that are easy to miss?
In elderly women (and sometimes older men), heart attack symptoms are often atypical — meaning no classic crushing chest pain. Watch for: nausea or vomiting, jaw or left arm discomfort, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, upper back pain, or a vague sense of 'something is wrong'. Any of these in an older adult with heart disease risk factors should be treated urgently. When in doubt, call 108.
Should I call 108 or take my parent to hospital myself for chest pain in India?
Call 108. An ambulance can begin assessment and treatment on the way. If 108 is delayed beyond 10–15 minutes and the parent's condition is deteriorating, go to the nearest hospital by private vehicle — but do not let them walk; carry or support them. Tell the hospital immediately on arrival that it may be a heart attack — say 'chest pain, possible heart attack' to the triage nurse and you will be prioritised.
How can I tell if my parent's chest pain is heartburn or a heart attack?
Heartburn is more likely if the discomfort is a burning sensation that comes after eating or lying down and eases clearly with an antacid within 15-30 minutes, with no sweating, breathlessness or spreading pain. Treat it as the heart if there is pressure, tightness or squeezing rather than just burning, sweating, nausea, breathlessness or dizziness alongside it, pain spreading to the arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach, or it comes on with exertion or doesn't fully resolve. Importantly, an antacid providing brief relief does not rule out a heart attack, and in older adults or diabetics a heart attack can occur with little or no chest pain at all — just fatigue, breathlessness, or a vague sense that something is wrong. If it is genuinely unclear, treat it as the heart and call 108.