A wife reports husband with chest pain lasting over 20 minutes on the left side radiating to his back. What should you advise?

A wife reports husband with chest pain lasting over 20 minutes on the left side radiating to his back. What should you advise?

• A. Call 911 and seek emergency care
• B. Take antacids and rest
• C. Call 999 and seek emergency medical help
• D. Schedule a GP appointment later today

Answer: (C)

Chest pain that could be heart-related requires immediate emergency assessment. The pattern described—pain on the left side lasting more than 20 minutes and radiating to the back—fits with acute coronary syndrome until proven otherwise, so professional evaluation shouldn’t be delayed. The best action is to contact your local emergency number right away so paramedics can start urgent care, monitor the heart, and transport to a hospital if needed. Do not try to treat it with antacids, rest, or delay for a GP appointment, as that could miss a time-critical situation. In the UK, call 999; in other places use your local emergency number. If there are no contraindications and a clinician has advised it, a chewable aspirin can be given while waiting for emergency help, but don’t delay calling for help.

Chest pain that could be heart-related requires immediate emergency assessment. The pattern described—pain on the left side lasting more than 20 minutes and radiating to the back—fits with acute coronary syndrome until proven otherwise, so professional evaluation shouldn’t be delayed. The best action is to contact your local emergency number right away so paramedics can start urgent care, monitor the heart, and transport to a hospital if needed. Do not try to treat it with antacids, rest, or delay for a GP appointment, as that could miss a time-critical situation. In the UK, call 999; in other places use your local emergency number. If there are no contraindications and a clinician has advised it, a chewable aspirin can be given while waiting for emergency help, but don’t delay calling for help.