Although we are all aware of what a heart attack is, a recent survey has revealed that as little as 16% of people could actually recognise the symptoms leading up to the attack itself. With that in mind a major campaign has been mounted to put this situation right.
Health authorities consider that what happens within the first sixty minutes, known as 'The Golden Hour', following the first symptoms of an attack to be critical if the patient is to survive.
Those people most at risk are normally over 45 years of age who are obese, heavy smokers, have an unhealthy diet and lifestyle or come from a family with a history of heart related problems. That is not to say that they are the only ones at risk though. Those suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension) would also be considered in the high risk group.
The heart, like any other major organ in the body, needs a constant supply of oxygen enriched blood for it to function properly. If that blood supply is stopped, or even just reduced, the heart muscles can become damaged and stop working altogether. Cholesterol, a symptom of high blood pressure, causes the main arteries to become narrower due to its fatty substances clogging up the arteries and blocking off the supply of blood to the heart. If this were allowed to continue the patient would eventually suffer a heart attack.
The main common symptoms of a heart attach are:
Moderate to severe chest pains
Pain in left arm or upper back
Rapid pain in jaw or teeth
Cold sweats
Breathlessness
Nausea or vomiting
Women are more likely to suffer from the nausea and vomiting but less likely to suffer the chest pains.
If any of the above symptoms persist for more than a few minutes it is best to chew and swallow 300 mg of aspirin tablet and call the emergency services immediately.
Chewing an aspirin tablet is considered to be much better and twice as quick as taking the tablet with a glass of water. If, for any reason, the patient cannot swallow the aspirin tablet then it should be broken up and placed under the tongue. The above dosage of aspirin is the ideal amount for adults and will begin to stop the coagulation of the blood in an artery or dissolve any blood clots that have already formed.
Cardiologist stress the importance of taking immediate action if any of the above symptoms should appear and not to wait to see if they feel better after half an hours, or to consider it to be just a mild illness that will pass. A handy slogan to remember is, 'If in doubt – shout!' as time really is critical in this situation.
Chew 300 mg of aspirin and immediately call the emergency services, do not try and attempt to drive to the hospital yourself as an ambulance can monitor your condition on route and inform the hospital of your arrival.
The first sixty minutes, 'The Golden Hour', should ideally be from the time your symptoms first begin to the time you or the patient arrives at hospital.
