CRITICAL CARE

It pays to know if the heart is malfunctioning and nationally the NHS is encouraging people to call 999 when they are having early signs of a heart attack.

Cardiovascular disease is the second biggest killer in England and recognising the symptoms of a heart attack and seeking medical attention early helps nine in ten people survive this potentially deadly emergency.

Heart attacks occur when the supply of blood to the heart becomes blocked, which can starve it of oxygen and this can quickly become life threatening.

“Often people don’t realise they’re having a heart attack, either because they don’t recognise the early signs, or because they don’t consider them severe enough to trouble the NHS. But make no mistake, a heart attack is a medical emergency, and it’s never too early to call 999 and describe your symptoms,” says Professor Nick Linker, cardiologist and national clinical director for heart disease, NHS England.

“Every moment that passes during a heart attack increases heart muscle damage and nearly all of the damage takes place within the first few hours,” he explains. “So, if you experience symptoms such as a sensation of squeezing or tightness across the chest, alongside sweating, nausea or a sense of unease, please call 999 so you have the best chance of a full recovery.”

Women Have Heart Attacks Too

Around 30,000 women are admitted to hospital following a heart attack each year in the UK. Women’s risk of a heart attack increases after the menopause, so it’s really important to take these symptoms seriously.

NHS research also shows that whilst 70 per cent of those surveyed understood that pain in the chest is a symptom of a heart attack, just 41 per cent knew sweating was a symptom and only 27 per cent understood feeling weak, lightheaded or a feeling of general unease were also symptoms.

“Research has found that women are less likely than men to recognise the symptoms of a heart attack, which can result in them delaying seeking medical attention, reducing their chance of survival,” says Kate Bratt-Farrar, chief executive at Heart Research UK.

“Our own data shows that women still have a limited understanding of their own risk of developing coronary heart disease, which is the main cause of a heart attack. This risk also increases after menopause, so knowing the symptoms and getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly is important.”

The NHS has launched a lifesaving campaign to encourage people to call 999 when they are having early signs of a heart attack, as admissions for heart attack return to pre-pandemic levels.

The campaign will teach people about the common signs of a heart attack that are often dismissed or ignored by people.

NHS figures show that there were more than 84,000 hospital heart attack admissions in England during 2021/22, up by more than 7,000 compared to the previous year when fewer people came forward for care during the pandemic.

People’s chances of surviving a heart attack are far higher if they seek care earlier. Around seven in ten people survive a heart attack increasing to more than nine in ten for those who reach hospital early to receive treatment.

ACT FAST…

An estimated 1.1 million people living in England today have survived a heart attack. Knowing the signs and dialling 999 could mean the difference between life and death.

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An estimated 1.1 million people living in England today have survived a heart attack. Knowing the signs and dialling 999 could mean the difference between life and death.

1 Send someone to call 999 for an ambulance immediately. If you are alone, go and call 999 immediately and then come straight back to the person.

2 Get the person to sit in a comfortable position, stay with them and keep them calm.

3 Give the person an adult aspirin tablet (300mg) to chew if one is easily available, unless they’re allergic to aspirin or they’ve been told not to take it. If you don’t have an aspirin next to you, or if you don’t know if the person is allergic to aspirin, just get them to stay resting until the ambulance arrives.

STEP BY STEP CARDIAC ARREST

HEART ATTACK THE SIGNS

While the most common symptom is chest pain, symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain without any chest pain. Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

• Chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest

• Pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy

• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

• Sweating

• Shortness of breath

• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)

• An overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)

• Coughing or wheezing.

Chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion.

HEART ATTACK

The person will usually be CONSCIOUS and may experience symptoms including chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

CARDIAC ARREST

The person will usually be UNCONSCIOUS and not breathing, or not breathing normally. The faster you act, the better their chances of survival.