Signs to look out for that you may be having a heart attack.
It’s true to say that where heart attacks are concerned, survival rates have never been higher in the UK. What’s more, the 1.4million Brits who have come back from cardiac arrest are the best evidence that good detection and accomplished care, combined, mean life can go back to being somewhere close to normal even after suffering a medical emergency that most would name as the most terrifying of their lives.
Indeed, of those 1.4million people, a good proportion will have recognised, noted and acted upon the symptoms having read about the tell-tale signs previously, so with that in mind, here is our guide to detecting when you might be having a heart attack, and the steps you should take.
What is a heart attack?
Firstly, to properly define a heart attack, it is when your blood-pumping organ goes into cardiac arrest. Blood, which carries oxygen to the heart, is unable to make its way through the coronary artery. In most cases this is caused by the build-up of cholesterol and fatty matter in the arteries.
While blood vessels in other parts of the heart may increase in size in order to make up for the shortfall, the blockage can form into a blood clot leaving that part of the heart starved of oxygen and unable to function.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms will vary between men and women, and it is thought that women display a greater range of these and they are more easily detectable, though many are familiar across both sexes. These include:
Chest pain and discomfort.
This begins in the centre of the chest and will feel like pain or indigestion. The sensation can come and go, or it might be constant.
Spreading pain.
Aching and physical distress may well spread to arms, neck, back and even the jaw.
Nausea.
Additionally, a feeling of nausea, sickness, dizziness and confusion may come on.
Thirst.
Many people experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack complain of a raging thirst.
Panic.
The variety of symptoms outlined above will make the body go into panic mode, though the most important thing is to remain calm and seek urgent help.
Treatment.
In the first instance, anyone fearing they are showing signs of having a heart attack should phone for an ambulance. The next step, if alone, is to ask a friend or relative to come over to sit with you until professional help arrives.
Under no circumstances should you attempt to drive yourself to hospital – this may in fact end up endangering not just your own life, but that of other road users and pedestrians.
The aftermath
Although the section of the heart starved of oxygen will never fully recover, the body will produce scar tissue and in a matter of weeks you should be working back up to an excellent level of recovery.
Indeed, many people take the shock of cardiac arrest as a solemn indication that old habits and lifestyle choices need to be changed; and a good proportion actually end up healthier after cardiac arrest than they were before the incident.
That said, the best tool to preserve good health is prevention of habits that can escalate to cardiac arrest, which means a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, and the limiting or tempering of unhealthy temptations, such as excessive drinking or smoking.
For more information visit: www.bhf.org.uk
