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Every second person who has suffered a heart attack does not call for medical help for more than an hour after the incident because they think that the ailments are a symptom of indigestion or other minor health problem.
The British Heart Foundation warns that many patients are unaware that the symptoms of a heart attack may include nausea, jaw pain, sweating or dizziness.
A poll of more than 500 patients after a heart attack found that eight out of ten people were unaware they had a heart attack, and a third thought the symptoms were related to indigestion.
Only every fourth respondent received medical assistance within an hour of the attack, which significantly reduced the risk of death and long-term disability.
Research shows that the first hour after blockage of the coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart is decisive – if the patient does not receive qualified medical attention within this time, nearly half of the heart muscle can be permanently damaged.
Contrary to popular belief, a heart attack is rarely a spectacular incident, during which the patient grasps the chest and falls to his knees. The poll showed that over 90 percent. patients remained conscious during the attack.
“It is very worrying that the vast majority of patients who experience a heart attack mistakenly consider their symptoms a trivial symptom and delay seeking medical attention. And yet every second counts in the event of a heart attack, ‘says Simon Gillespie, director of the British Heart Foundation.
– The sooner the patient and his surroundings recognize the symptoms and call an ambulance, the greater the chances of recovery.
– Thanks to advances in medicine, seven out of ten people are saved. Unfortunately, in most cases, a heart attack occurs without warning. It is impossible to predict when it will happen.
Melanie Mully, 43, of Bishop Stortford suffered a heart attack when she was just 38 years old. The woman did not even suspect that she was having a heart attack.
– It happened a week before my wedding, so I had my head occupied with other matters, such as how to seat the guests – he recalls. “ I was just standing in line to pay for a gift when I suddenly felt hot and sweated. My shoulder hurt and I had indigestion. I did not worry about it at all, because I had similar ailments recently, when I was pregnant. The pain continued throughout the day, but I didn’t feel like sitting in the emergency room for hours in the waiting room with a toddler.
– Finally in the evening the heart attack led to a sudden cardiac arrest and my heart stopped working. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived immediately, the rescuer performed CPR and saved my life.
– I was not overweight, I never smoked, it never crossed my mind that I might have a heart attack.
Myocardial infarction: symptoms and first aid
A heart attack, also known as a heart attack, is a serious medical condition in which the blood supply to the heart suddenly becomes blocked – usually due to a blood clot forming. Cardiac ischemia can severely damage the heart muscle. Requires immediate medical attention.
The most common symptoms:
– chest pain – you may feel that a heavy object is pressing or pressing down on your chest, the pain may radiate to the jaw, neck, arms and back,
– breathing problems,
Weakness and / or dizziness
– overwhelming anxiety.
Not everyone experiences severe chest pain; the pain may be mild and is then easily mistaken for indigestion. A heart attack is manifested by a cluster of symptoms, not just by the severity of chest pain.
First aid in the event of a heart attack:
Call 999 (or 112) and ask for an ambulance to be sent if you suspect you or someone around you is having a heart attack.
If the patient is not allergic to aspirin and the drug is on hand, it should be given (preferably 300 mg). The patient should chew the tablet slowly and swallow while waiting for the emergency doctor to arrive. Aspirin thins the blood and reduces the risk of a heart attack.
Further therapy depends on the seriousness of the heart attack. Anticoagulants and surgery are most commonly used to restore blood flow to the heart.
Source: NHS