Every year, a heart attack affects 100 Poles, of whom 35 die. Quickly provided professional help and transport to the hospital are decisive here. It is a small consolation that as many as 80% of cases would be saved by a healthy lifestyle if we do not intend to implement it in our everyday life.
In general, a heart attack occurs as a result of damage to the atherosclerotic plaque, as a result of which the resulting clot clogs one of the main coronary arteries. After 15-20 minutes, cardiac necrosis progresses. Blood flow is still possible, although insufficient, we still have a chance to save someone’s life.
Quick reaction = life
The Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes states that, on average, it takes 120 minutes from the onset of the first symptoms to calling an ambulance. The group of people who delay calling for help are the elderly, women, diabetics and patients with heart failure. In the early phase of a heart attack, we have the best chance of survival, so time plays a major role.
Particular risk
Factors that increase the risk of a heart attack:
hypertension,
smoking,
lack of physical activity,
diabetes,
stress,
great physical effort,
lipid disorders.
Alarming symptoms
The factor that should alert us is persistent, severe pain in the chest for 20 minutes. However, you should be careful here. Pain may not occur at all, especially in diabetics and elderly people with heart failure. A heart attack can take the form of fainting, weakness, shortness of breath, and even be asymptomatic.
The indicated symptoms may also be accompanied by an abnormal heart rate (too fast or too slow), nausea, sweating, low blood pressure, paleness.
Often in the chest, it radiates to the area of the jaw, left shoulder, elbow, hand or between the shoulder blades.
Pain can be squeezing, bursting, tearing, dull, burning, aching, suffocating.
Mostly, the pain is located behind the sternum or on the left side of the chest, much less often on the right side of the chest or in the abdominal cavity.
In people who have already had a heart attack and those with coronary artery disease, persistent pain after nitroglycerin raises the suspicion of a heart attack.
First aid
In the case of symptoms, you must not delay the decision to call for help in the hope that it will pass, that it is not a heart attack or because of reluctance to go to hospitals. Only one decision is possible – call an ambulance on 999 or 112.
We should wait for the ambulance to arrive, only in exceptional situations can we risk transport on our own.
A person with a heart attack should lie immobile, and in the event of shortness of breath, assume a semi-sitting or sitting position.
Be sure to unbutton your shirts and take off your tie to make it easier for them to breathe.
If the patient loses consciousness, breathing and heartbeat, immediately perform heart massage in the middle of the sternum and apply artificial respiration – 30 compressions, 2 breaths.