Depends on protocols, but hence why EMS’ job is recognition of the right issue (the best we can do), there are things we can evaluate to determine if we think its an aortic aneurysm even at the emt level to rule that out before making the determination to give aspirin (eg: comparing bilateral blood pressures, checking for pulsating masses)

a heart attack is far more common than an aortic aneurysm.

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laszlojamf 2 hours ago | parent [-]

would comparing bilateral blood pressure (which I assume the patient could do themselves) be enough? I'm not asking for medical advice, just like... what would _you_ do if it was you who had sudden chest pain?

	▲	captainkrtek 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Id encourage you (generally, outside of hn) to lookup the symptoms of a heart attack and aortic aneurysm. A aortic aneurysm can present with a pulsating mass in the abdomen, and is more common in older people and smokers. The inner lumen of the aorta starts to separate and blood can flow differently or be restricted, eg: right arm bp may be different than left arm. But absence of that doesn’t rule it out entirely. Whereas a heart attack is going to feel pain in the chest, perhaps radiating to the jaw, shoulder, back, maybe nausea, sweating, and an impending sense of doom. Automated bp cuffs are pretty inaccurate imo, we use them at the tail end of transport to the hospital and they usually spit out wild numbers. An auscultated bp with a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer is the gold standard. Bottom line, If you are having chest pain, call 911.