Medical Emergencies – Heart Attacks.

What causes heart attacks?

The British Heart Foundation reports that heart attacks & circulatory diseases account for almost a quarter of all deaths in the UK. This means approximately 1 death every 3 minutes!

Here’s some information that can help you recognise & manage the signs & symptoms of a heart attack.

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack is a blockage to one or more of the main arteries of the heart. This blockage prevents blood & oxygen from reaching the heart & causes death to the muscle tissue.

What causes a heart attack?

Most commonly, a heart attack is caused by a build-up of fatty deposits that stick to the arteries over time. Things like smoking, poor diet/lifestyle, diabetes & high blood pressure increase the deposits. This causes a narrowing, which blocks (or initially reduces) the blood from getting to the heart.

What are the signs & symptoms of a heart attack?

Heart attacks don’t always follow the same pattern of signs & symptoms but here are some of the common ones to look for:

Example of: Severe tightness/pressure in the center of the chest.

Severe tightness/pressure in the center of the chest.
Pain in the center of the chest which spreads to the left arm, neck, back, jaw, shoulder or generally anywhere in the upper torso.
Profuse sweating.
A very pale, almost grey appearance to the casualty’s skin.
Nausea and/or vomiting.
A “sense of impending doom” – severe anxiety.
Shortness of breath/fatigue.
Dizziness.

How to manage a heart attack.

Call 999 as soon as you recognise the symptoms.
Make the casualty as comfortable as possible and reassure them.
If aspirin is available, let the casualty take 300mg.
If they become unconscious and stop breathing, perform CPR.

Remember to: Call 999 as soon as you recognise the symptoms.

Are heart attacks fatal?

A heart attack can be fatal. However, the sooner the signs & symptoms are recognised & the ambulance is called, the higher the chances re of survival. Heart attacks can last longer than half an hour. But the longer the attack goes on without treatment, the more damage is done to the heart.

Are a heart attack and cardiac arrest the same thing?

No. A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping blood around your body. This could, however, be caused by a heart attack.

Conclusion

By understanding and recognising the signs & symptoms of a heart attack, you can arrange an ambulance and potentially prevent the loss of life.

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