An 84-year-old male has chest pain described as squeezing. What should you do for him considering his history of heart disease?

In the context of an 84-year-old male with a history of heart disease presenting with squeezing chest pain, administering aspirin is a critical intervention. Aspirin acts as an antiplatelet medication, which helps to inhibit the aggregation of platelets in the blood, reducing the likelihood of clot formation, particularly in cases of myocardial ischemia or infarction. By preventing platelet clumping, aspirin can help to maintain blood flow to the heart muscle and mitigate further damage during a cardiac event.

This action is especially important given the patient's age and history of heart disease, as these factors increase the risk of serious cardiac complications. Aspirin should be given as soon as possible, provided there are no contraindications, such as an allergy to aspirin or active gastrointestinal bleeding.

Other management strategies, like administering oxygen or assisting with nitroglycerin, may also be appropriate in specific situations. However, the immediate use of aspirin for its cardioprotective effects is paramount in patients with chest pain associated with potential cardiac issues. Thus, in this scenario, administering aspirin is the most clinically significant and immediate intervention to take.