What is the first step in managing a patient with suspected myocardial infarction?

The first step in managing a patient with suspected myocardial infarction is to ensure the patient's comfort and provide supplemental oxygen if necessary. This approach focuses on stabilizing the patient’s condition and addressing immediate symptoms. Comfort measures may involve positioning the patient in a way that relieves pain and anxiety. Providing oxygen helps to increase the amount of oxygen available to the heart muscle, which may be compromised during an infarction.

Addressing comfort and ensuring adequate oxygenation also allows for a clearer clinical picture to evolve as other treatments or diagnostic evaluations are performed. While other interventions, such as administering aspirin or conducting an electrocardiogram, are critical in subsequent steps of management, initial comfort and oxygenation set a foundation for patient care during a myocardial infarction.