Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, usually because the coronary arteries are narrowed. It often appears when the heart is working harder than usual, such as during exercise, stress or after a heavy meal, and it typically settles within minutes of rest or the person’s own medicine. Angina is a warning that the arteries are diseased, so first aid is about easing the attack and recognising if it is actually a heart attack.
Signs of an Attack
- A tight, heavy or squeezing pain across the chest, similar to the person’s usual angina
- Pain that spreads to the neck, jaw, shoulders or arms, usually the left
- Shortness of breath, pallor and a distressed look
- A slow onset, often after physical effort or emotion
Many people know they have angina and carry medicine for it.
Angina First Aid: 6 Steps
- Stop the activity and let the person rest. Help them sit in a comfortable position, usually upright, and reassure them.
- Loosen tight clothing.
- Help them use their own medicine. Angina medicine is commonly glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), as a tablet dissolved under the tongue or a spray. Follow the person’s own action plan and the instructions on the label. Check that the medicine is in date and that the person sits while using it, because it can lower blood pressure and cause dizziness. Never give someone else’s tablets.
- Wait for relief. Pain normally eases within a few minutes of rest and medicine.
- Call an ambulance if the pain is not relieved, if it is severe, or if it lasts more than about five minutes after the first dose, in line with the person’s plan.
- Stay with them and monitor breathing and alertness until they are better or help arrives.
Angina Pain Versus Heart Attack Pain
The key difference is that angina pain eases with rest and medicine, while heart attack pain does not. If the pain continues, grows worse, comes with sweating, nausea or breathlessness, or the person looks grey and unwell, treat it as a heart attack, call an ambulance and follow heart attack first aid.
Medicine Safety for Angina
Angina medicines come as tablets under the tongue, sprays and skin patches or pastes. Avoid touching a paste with bare skin, as you can absorb it and develop headaches or dizziness. Medicines that treat erectile dysfunction can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure when combined with nitrates, so a first aider should ask whether the person has taken them before giving a dose. When unsure, call the ambulance and let the crew decide.
If the Person Collapses
If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, call for help and start CPR using the steps in CPR for adults. Use an AED if available.
Living With the Condition
People with angina should keep their medicine within reach, carry an action plan, take preventive medicines as prescribed and see their doctor if attacks become more frequent, last longer or occur at rest. Those changes may signal unstable angina, which needs urgent attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can angina turn into a heart attack?
Yes. Angina that changes pattern, occurs at rest or does not settle needs urgent evaluation because it can precede a heart attack.
Is it safe to give aspirin for angina?
Aspirin is for suspected heart attack. For known angina follow the person’s plan and call an ambulance if pain persists.
References and Further Reading
Last updated: October 2026
Prepared by: EHS Guidelines Editorial Team
This article is general educational information and is not a substitute for accredited first aid training or professional medical care. In an emergency, call your local emergency number immediately. Emergency numbers, medicines and protocols differ between countries, so follow local guidance.
Related Guides
- Heart Attack First Aid: Recognising Symptoms and Acting Within Minutes
- CPR for Adults: Current Technique and Compression Ratios
- Vital Signs Observations: Pulse, Breathing, Conscious State and Skin
- Fainting First Aid: What to Do When Someone Collapses and Recovers
- DRABC Primary Survey: The Basic Life Support Flow Chart Explained
Be the first to comment