1. Stop
Exercise, even when intense, should not produce chest pains. Occasionally, athletes experience pain that radiates from other areas, such as gas pain or side stitches. However, these pains disappear after you slow down for a moment. Do not try to push through chest pain. You should never ignore the signs of heart problems.
2. Call 911
If you are experiencing chest pain, call Emergency Services immediately. They will alert authorities and send an ambulance to respond to your call. Calling an ambulance at the first sign of chest pain greatly increases the chance that a heart attack will cause little to no damage. When you have chest pain, do not take a wait-and-see approach; be proactive. Notify someone in a position of authority, such as a manager at the health club or a race director, of the situation. If nothing else, find an employee or volunteer to alert and ask for assistance. Many times, they have a plan of action to speed up the treatment of individuals having health problems.
3. Take Emergency Meds
Some people who exercise have a diagnosis of heart disease or another heart-related disorder that puts them at high risk for heart attacks. Doctors sometimes prescribe emergency medication for these people to take in case they have a heart attack. Nitroglycerin stops the heart attack, and the patient carries it with him at all times. If you have a prescription for nitroglycerin, be sure to carry it with you when you work out, and at the first sign of a heart attack, such as heart pain, take it as directed.
4. Schedule a Doctor's Appointment
Even if the Emergency Personnel do a full evaluation and they don't find anything, it doesn't mean there's nothing there to worry about. Schedule an appointment with your physician, who will refer you to a cardiologist. Cardiologists specialize in the treatment of heart disorders, and run tests to ensure your heart is healthy and functioning properly. Do not return to exercise until he gives you full clearance to do so. Make sure any directions regarding what types of exercise are right for you, and which ones to avoid, are absolutely clear and followed to the extreme.
