Table 2.

Summary of the study themes and sub-themes

Theme	Subtheme	Quotation
The onset of symptoms	Sudden onset of symptoms	I was eating dinner, suddenly, I felt like the weight of a mountain on my chest. I could see my death. This should tell how it felt (p:31)
	The gradual development of the symptoms	I had a headache for a few days; I could not eat or do anything. It was not continuous; no, I just had to rest. It would hurt when I would get up (p: 38)
The types of	Chest symptoms	I had the worst world pain in my chest; it was pounding in my left hand. … Squeezing my heart (p: 28)
	Non-chest symptoms	I felt suffocated, found it very difficult to breathe, sweated a lot, and my body was weak. I thought I must have gotten the Corona (p: 18)
	Symptomless	I was getting prepared for the surgery (knee surgery)… not sure what happened; they referred me here for a heart problem (p: 19)
Response to symptoms	Using home remedies	I put a hot brick on my shoulders to help relieve it (pain) (p: 25)
	Ignoring symptoms	In older age, you should not pay too much attention to pain; otherwise, you should be in the hospital all the time. You always have pain somewhere (p: 27)
	Hiding symptoms	I did not tell anyone about my symptoms. Why should I bother others? Take me to the doctor, buy me medicine, cook for me, I want to rest… (p: 34)
	Making the decision to seek medical help	I look after myself. Doctors are here to help us; all these equipment and nurses are here to help us, to take care of us (p: 29)
		The pain came, I screamed, my son came to the room, I said I am dying, call the ambulance. It (ambulance) came pretty fast (p: 24)
Arriving at the hospital	Arriving by ambulance	It would be dangerous to come (to the hospital) by ourselves. In an ambulance, you are with a health team member, equipment,….(p:37)
	Using a personal vehicle	Our house is over that street; walking is even faster than calling an ambulance…like explaining to the operator….. (p: 23)