What is the first intervention for a suspected myocardial infarction?

What is the first intervention for a suspected myocardial infarction?

• A. Administer diuretic
• B. Administer aspirin
• C. Administer nitroglycerin
• D. Begin CPR

Answer: (B)

Early antiplatelet therapy with aspirin is the most important initial step when myocardial infarction is suspected. Aspirin rapidly inhibits COX-1 in platelets, reducing thromboxane A2 and thus preventing further platelet aggregation and clot growth. This lowers mortality and limits heart muscle damage, so giving a chewable aspirin dose promptly (assuming no contraindications like allergy or active bleeding) is the best first intervention. Diuretics don’t address the acute clotting process and can worsen hemodynamics in some MI patients. Nitroglycerin helps with chest pain and ischemia but is not the first action and may be unsafe if blood pressure is low or in certain infarct patterns. CPR is only for patients in cardiac arrest; it isn’t the initial step for a patient who is awake and hemodynamically stable with suspected MI.

Early antiplatelet therapy with aspirin is the most important initial step when myocardial infarction is suspected. Aspirin rapidly inhibits COX-1 in platelets, reducing thromboxane A2 and thus preventing further platelet aggregation and clot growth. This lowers mortality and limits heart muscle damage, so giving a chewable aspirin dose promptly (assuming no contraindications like allergy or active bleeding) is the best first intervention.

Diuretics don’t address the acute clotting process and can worsen hemodynamics in some MI patients. Nitroglycerin helps with chest pain and ischemia but is not the first action and may be unsafe if blood pressure is low or in certain infarct patterns. CPR is only for patients in cardiac arrest; it isn’t the initial step for a patient who is awake and hemodynamically stable with suspected MI.