Heart Attack
A heart attack happens when a blocked coronary artery cuts off blood to part of the heart muscle; calling 108 quickly and reaching hospital early can limit the damage.
Warning signs you should never ignore
A heart attack usually begins when a plaque inside a coronary artery breaks open and a blood clot forms on it, suddenly blocking blood flow. The part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery starts getting damaged, and the damage keeps growing every minute the artery stays blocked. That is why speed matters more than anything else.
- Chest pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness lasting more than a few minutes, or going away and coming back
- Pain spreading to the arm, left shoulder, jaw, neck or back
- Breathlessness, cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness
Women, older people and people with diabetes may have less typical signs, such as breathlessness, unusual tiredness or discomfort in the upper abdomen, sometimes with little chest pain.
What to do right now
- Call 108 ambulance (or 112) immediately. Do not wait to see if it settles.
- Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
- Sit down, stay as calm as you can and rest. Loosen tight clothing.
- Chew an aspirin only if a doctor or the emergency call-taker advises it and you are not allergic to it.
- Go to a hospital that can do emergency angioplasty, so the blocked artery can be opened as early as possible.
A heart attack is not the same as cardiac arrest
In a heart attack the person is usually awake and talking, but unwell. In cardiac arrest the heart suddenly stops pumping effectively: the person collapses, does not respond and is not breathing normally. Shout for help, call 108 and start CPR, which means pushing hard and fast on the centre of the chest, until help arrives. More steps are on the emergency page.
In the hospital and after
Doctors confirm a heart attack with an ECG and blood tests such as troponin. Treatment usually means finding the blocked artery with coronary angiography and opening it with angioplasty and a stent. When a cath lab cannot be reached in time, clot-dissolving medicine may be given. An echocardiogram checks how well the heart is pumping.
The risk factors are the same as for coronary artery disease: diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, tobacco, family history and inactivity. Afterwards, taking medicines regularly, stopping tobacco completely, controlling sugar, BP and cholesterol, and cardiac rehabilitation help lower the chance of another attack.
Diagnosis and treatment are decided only after examination by a doctor. This page is for understanding; in an emergency, call 108 first.
For understanding only — the right test or treatment is decided after examination.
