Cardiac Emergency in Delhi — What to Do, Where to Go, and How to Save a Life

A cardiac emergency can strike anyone, anywhere, without warning. In a city like Delhi — where traffic congestion, air pollution and high-stress lifestyles elevate cardiovascular risk — knowing exactly what to do in the first few minutes of a heart attack can be the difference between a full recovery and irreversible heart damage, or worse.

This guide covers the practical, potentially life-saving steps every Delhi resident should know: how to recognise a cardiac emergency, what to do immediately, who to call, where to go, and what happens once you reach the hospital.

Recognising a Cardiac Emergency

Not every episode of chest pain is a heart attack, but certain patterns demand immediate action. A cardiac emergency is likely if a person experiences:

• Crushing chest pain or tightness — a heavy, squeezing pressure in the centre of the chest lasting more than five minutes that does not improve with rest
• Pain radiating outward — to the left arm, jaw, neck, shoulder blades or upper abdomen
• Cold sweat and breathlessness — profuse sweating unrelated to heat or exertion, accompanied by difficulty breathing
• Sudden collapse or loss of consciousness — this may indicate a cardiac arrest, which requires CPR within seconds
• Nausea, vomiting or extreme fatigue — especially in women, diabetics and elderly patients, these may be the only symptoms

The Golden Hour — Why Every Minute Counts

In cardiology, the "golden hour" refers to the first 60 minutes after a heart attack begins. During this window, the blocked coronary artery can be opened with primary angioplasty, and most of the heart muscle can still be saved. After this window, heart muscle begins to die irreversibly — and the longer the delay, the greater the permanent damage.

The medical benchmark is door-to-balloon time — the interval from a patient's arrival at the hospital door to the moment the blocked artery is opened with a balloon in the catheterisation laboratory. International guidelines recommend a door-to-balloon time of under 90 minutes. At well-equipped cardiac centres in Delhi such as Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, this can be achieved in under 60 minutes when patients arrive promptly.

The tragic reality in Delhi and across India is that many patients reach the hospital three to six hours after symptom onset — often because they mistook the pain for gas or acidity, waited to see if it would pass, or spent time visiting a local clinic without a cath lab. By that point, significant and often permanent heart muscle damage has already occurred.

Step-by-Step: What to Do During a Cardiac Emergency

If you suspect that you or someone near you is having a heart attack, follow these steps immediately:

1. Call 112 immediately — India's unified emergency number connects you to ambulance services. State clearly: "I think this is a heart attack," and give your exact location. In Delhi, you can also call 102 for an ambulance or 1099 for CATS Ambulance.
2. Chew an aspirin (325 mg) — if the patient is not allergic to aspirin, give them one regular aspirin tablet (325 mg) to chew, not swallow whole. Chewing allows faster absorption into the bloodstream and begins to thin the blood, slowing clot formation in the blocked artery.
3. Help the patient sit upright — a slightly reclined sitting position with knees bent makes breathing easier. Do not lay them flat unless they lose consciousness.
4. Loosen tight clothing — remove ties, belts, or tight collars. Open windows for fresh air if indoors.
5. Stay calm and keep the patient calm — anxiety increases the heart's workload. Reassure the person that help is on the way.
6. If the patient becomes unresponsive — start CPR — if the person stops breathing or has no pulse, begin chest compressions immediately. Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest and push hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, at least 5 cm deep. Do not stop until the ambulance arrives. You do not need formal training to perform hands-only CPR — it can double or triple the chance of survival.
7. Note the time — record when symptoms started. This information is critical for the emergency team to decide on treatment.

What NOT to Do During a Heart Attack

Well-intentioned mistakes during a cardiac emergency can cost lives. Avoid the following:

• Do not drive yourself to the hospital — you may lose consciousness while driving. Have someone else drive, or wait for the ambulance.
• Do not "wait and watch" — the instinct to wait for the pain to pass is the single most dangerous response. Many patients in Delhi lose precious hours because they assumed it was gas, acidity or muscle pain.
• Do not visit a local clinic first — a neighbourhood clinic without an ECG machine and cath lab cannot treat a heart attack. Go directly to a hospital with a 24/7 cardiac catheterisation laboratory.
• Do not give water to wash down the aspirin — chewing allows faster absorption. Water slows it down.
• Do not follow unverified home remedies — coughing forcefully, drinking lemon water, or applying pressure points will not unblock a coronary artery. These circulate widely on social media and waste critical time.

Where to Go — Reaching a Cath Lab in Delhi

The most important factor in surviving a heart attack is reaching a hospital that has a 24/7 cardiac catheterisation laboratory staffed by an interventional cardiologist who can perform primary angioplasty. Not every hospital in Delhi has this capability. When calling the ambulance, specifically ask to be taken to a cardiac centre with a cath lab.

For residents of Rohini, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Model Town and north-west Delhi, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh is one of the nearest tertiary cardiac centres with round-the-clock cath lab availability. Dr. Abhinav Aggarwal is available at Fortis Shalimar Bagh for 24/7 cardiac emergencies and primary angioplasty.

For non-emergency cardiac consultations and preventive heart check-ups, you can visit CardioSight Clinic at 169-170, Pocket C9, Sector 7, Rohini, Delhi 110085.

Primary Angioplasty — The Gold Standard Treatment

When a patient arrives at the emergency department during a heart attack (STEMI), the treatment of choice is primary angioplasty — an emergency procedure to open the blocked artery using a balloon catheter and then placing a stent to keep it open. Unlike clot-dissolving medicines (thrombolysis), primary angioplasty physically removes the blockage and restores full blood flow, resulting in better outcomes and lower mortality.

The procedure is performed through a small puncture in the wrist (radial artery), takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes, and most patients are awake throughout. Recovery is rapid — many patients are able to sit up within hours and are typically discharged within two to four days.

The success of primary angioplasty depends almost entirely on time. A patient who arrives within the golden hour has the best chance of preserving heart function. A patient who arrives six hours late may survive, but with permanent heart muscle damage that leads to heart failure, reduced exercise capacity and a lower quality of life.

When Chest Pain Is Not a Cardiac Emergency

While it is always safer to get evaluated, some patterns of chest discomfort are unlikely to be a heart attack and can be assessed through a planned cardiology consultation:

• Sharp, fleeting pain lasting only one to two seconds
• Pain that changes with breathing, coughing or body position
• Tenderness when you press on the chest wall (suggests musculoskeletal cause)
• Burning behind the breastbone that worsens after meals and improves with antacids (likely gastroesophageal reflux)
• Chest tightness linked to anxiety or panic, especially in younger adults with no risk factors

Even if your symptoms match these patterns, a cardiac evaluation is still recommended if you have risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, or a family history of heart disease. A simple ECG, troponin test and echocardiogram can rule out a cardiac cause and give you peace of mind.

Reach Dr. Abhinav Aggarwal

Dr. Abhinav Aggarwal is an Interventional Cardiologist available for cardiac emergencies at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For non-emergency consultations, preventive cardiac check-ups and follow-up care, you can visit CardioSight Clinic in Rohini.

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Frequently Asked Questions

This article is intended for general patient education and does not replace a professional medical consultation. The information provided here should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, call emergency services (112) immediately. Please discuss your individual symptoms, reports and treatment options with your cardiologist.