Every year, in Italy, about 120 thousand people are struck by a heart attack and among them about 25 thousand die before arriving in hospital. In addition, along with other heart conditions, heart attack is the leading cause of death in the United States, as well as in the rest of the world. About half of heart attack deaths occur in the first 60 minutes before the patient is able to reach a hospital. Therefore, to increase the chances of survival it is essential to act quickly. Calling the emergency services in the first five minutes so that you get medical attention no later than an hour after a heart attack episode can make the difference between life and death. So, in these cases seek immediate medical assistance, otherwise continue reading the article to find out the measures to be taken to react correctly.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Evaluating Heart Attack Symptoms
Step 1. Watch out for chest pain
The most common symptom is pain or discomfort in the chest that is mild in intensity rather than sudden and excruciating. The sensation resembles that of a vise or a weight, so it is constricting, overwhelming and oppressive; it is sometimes mistaken for heartburn associated with poor digestion.
- Typically, if it is moderate or severe, the pain occurs on the left side or in the center of the chest and persists for a few minutes. It can also regress and then reappear.
- During a heart attack, you may complain of pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in your chest.
- Chest pain can radiate to other parts of the body, including the neck, shoulders, back, jaw, teeth, and abdomen.
Step 2. Consider other symptoms
Chest pain may be accompanied by other typical heart attack symptoms. However, in many cases, it is mild or non-existent. If you notice the following signs, particularly in conjunction with chest pain, don't hesitate to see your doctor:
- Dyspnea. An inexplicable difficulty in breathing may occur before or at the same time as chest pain, but in some cases it is the only indication of a heart attack. Wheezing or the need to take long, deep breaths can be a wake-up call.
- Stomach ache. Sometimes stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting accompany a heart attack and can be mistaken for flu symptoms.
- Lightheadedness or dizziness. Feeling faint or running around can also be a symptom of a heart attack.
- Anxiety. You may suffer from a sudden panic attack, feel anxious, or feel like you are going to die.
Step 3. Recognize the signs of heart attack in women
Chest pain is the most common and widespread symptom in both men and women. However, in female subjects (and in some cases also in males) it can be mild, if not non-existent. Women, as well as elderly and diabetic patients, are more likely to experience the following symptoms, even if not accompanied by chest pain:
- Women may complain of chest pain other than that typically described as sudden and excruciating. It can come and go, start slowly and increase in severity over time, relieve itself with rest and intensify with physical exertion.
- Pain in the jaw, neck, or back are common signs of a heart attack, especially in women.
- Abdominal pain, cold sweats, nausea and vomiting are more common in women than in men. They can be mistaken for symptoms related to heartburn, indigestion or the flu.
- Cold sweat is a common clinical sign in women. Usually, it is perceived in a way more similar to that induced by stress and anxiety than to normal sweating related to physical activity.
- Anxiety, unexplained panic attacks, and the feeling of impending doom are more common symptoms in women than in men.
- Fatigue, weakness and lack of energy in a sudden, unusual or inexplicable form are common signs of heart attack in women. They can last a short time or persist for several days.
- Dyspnea, dizziness and fainting.
Step 4. React quickly
In most cases, the heart attack occurs slowly rather than suddenly hitting the patient. Many people do not realize that they are dealing with a serious illness. If at least one of the most common symptoms of heart attack occurs, you should see your doctor immediately.
- Timeliness is a key factor. About 60% of heart attack deaths occur within the first hour. However, patients who manage to reach the hospital within the first 90 minutes are more likely to survive than those who arrive later.
- Many people mistake heart attack symptoms for other ailments, including heartburn, flu, and anxiety. The symptoms that can indicate this pathology should not be ignored or underestimated, but immediately seek help.
- Symptoms can vary from person to person, manifest in mild or severe form, appear, regress and recur over several hours. Some patients may suffer from a heart attack with mild or even nonexistent symptoms.
Part 2 of 3: Seeking Help During a Heart Attack Episode
Step 1. See your doctor immediately
About 90% of those who experience a heart attack survive if they arrive alive at the hospital. Many heart attack deaths occur because patients do not receive timely medical attention, which often happens due to hesitation. If you experience any of the symptoms listed so far, don't delay. Call 118 for immediate help.
- Although the symptoms present in a harmless form, the patient's life depends on the timeliness of medical intervention. Don't be afraid to embarrass yourself or waste the time of the medical staff who have come to your rescue: they will understand.
- The staff on board the ambulance will begin treatment as soon as you arrive, so calling for help is the fastest way to get help in the event of a heart attack.
- Don't drive to the hospital. If medical personnel can't reach you quickly or if there are no other ways to get health care, ask a family member, friend or neighbor to drive you to the nearest emergency room.
Step 2. Tell those in attendance that you may be having a heart attack
If you suspect a heart attack and are with your family or in a public place, let those around you know. If the situation worsens, your life may depend on immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, so the likelihood of getting effective help will be greater if the people around you know what's happening to you.
- If you are on the street, stop a car and signal the driver to help you, or call 911 and wait for the ambulance to arrive at a place where it can reach you quickly.
- If you are on a plane, notify the flight attendant immediately. Airlines allow the carriage of drugs on board to be administered in such circumstances and, if necessary, flight attendants can also request the intervention of a doctor who can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Also, if a passenger has a heart attack, pilots are required to change direction to the nearest airport.
Step 3. Avoid moving
If you can't get to the hospital quickly, try to stay calm and still. Sit down, rest and wait for the emergency medical services to arrive. Any effort can strain the heart and worsen the damage caused by the heart attack.
Step 4. Take an aspirin or nitroglycerin tablet if appropriate
In many cases, patients can recover by taking an aspirin tablet at the start of the episode. Take it now and chew it slowly while you wait for the healthcare staff to arrive. If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin, take a dose at the beginning of the heart attack and call the emergency services.
However, aspirin can make some ailments worse. Ask your doctor if it is suitable for your health condition
Part 3 of 3: Recovering After a Heart Attack
Step 1. Follow your doctor's advice after your heart attack
Once the heart attack is over, it is essential to follow the doctor's advice to recover both in the days following the episode, and in the long term.
There is a good chance that you will be prescribed medications to inhibit blood clotting. You will most likely have to take them for the rest of your life
Step 2. Be aware of mood swings
It happens very often that those who have survived a heart attack suffer from depression. It can be due to embarrassment, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, a sense of guilt for past life choices and fear or uncertainty about the future.
A controlled physical training program, restoring relationships with family, friends and colleagues, along with professional psychological help are some of the ways patients can regain control of their life after a heart attack
Step 3. Learn about the risks of a second heart attack
If you have already suffered a heart attack, the risk of a second episode is higher. Nearly one-third of heart attacks in the United States occur in people who survive the first attack each year. Here are the factors that put you at risk of a second episode:
- Smoke. If you smoke, the risk of having a heart attack is twice as high.
- High cholesterol. If blood cholesterol values are elevated, they are one of the most important factors in the onset of heart attack and other heart complications. They can be dangerous especially in conjunction with other risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and smoking.
- Diabetes, especially if not properly controlled, can increase the risk of heart attack.
- Obesity. Being overweight can increase blood cholesterol levels and hypertension, leading to heart complications. Additionally, obesity can contribute to diabetes, another factor that puts you at risk of a second heart attack.
Step 4. Correct your lifestyle
Health complications from an unhealthy lifestyle put you at risk of a second heart attack. Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, high cholesterol, hyperglycemia, hypertension, stress and smoking increase this risk.
- Reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats. Avoid foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils.
- Lower cholesterol. You can do this through diet, regular exercise, or by taking cholesterol medications prescribed by your doctor. A great way to keep it under control is to consume oily fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Cut back on alcohol. Drink only the recommended daily amount and avoid overdoing it.
- Lose weight. Try to maintain a healthy BMI, between 18.5 and 24.9.
- Do you practice any sport. Consult your doctor to find out how you can start exercising. It would be ideal to follow a cardiovascular exercise program under the supervision of a professional, but it is not essential. With the help of your doctor, you can develop a cardiovascular activity program (such as walking or swimming) starting from your current level of fitness and orienting yourself towards reasonable and achievable goals over time (such as walking on the street without going out of breath).
- Stop smoking. If you stop immediately, you can cut the risk of a heart attack in half.
Advice
- If someone has a heart attack, call emergency services immediately. Also, it would be wise to learn how to treat a heart attack.
- Together with your health card, keep the name and phone number of a person to contact in case of an emergency.
- If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin because you have suffered from angina pectoris or other heart problems in the past, always carry it with you. If you use an oxygen cylinder, albeit sporadically, never forget it. Also, you should carry a card in your wallet listing the medications you are taking and those you are allergic to. In this way, you enable doctors to help you effectively and without risk in the event of a heart attack or in other situations.
- If you are at risk, always carry a cell phone with you and ask your doctor if you also need to keep an aspirin on hand.
- Do not panic. Apply a damp washcloth or cold pack to your groin or armpits to lower your body temperature. It has been shown that in many cases, decreasing body temperature can increase a patient's survival expectations.
- If the heart attack is not accompanied by any symptoms, it can be dangerous or lethal especially because it does not generate warning signs.
- It is always a good idea to prepare for a heart attack even if you don't have heart disease. An aspirin tablet can spell the difference between life and death for many people and takes up very little space in their wallet or purse. Also, be sure to bring a note with you stating your allergies, medications you are taking, and any health issues you may be suffering from.
- Be very careful if you are at risk, for example if you are elderly, obese, have diabetes, have high cholesterol, are a smoker, drink a lot or have heart disease. Consult your doctor to find out how you can reduce the risk of heart attack.
- Eat healthily, exercise, and don't smoke. If you are elderly, ask your doctor if you need to take a very small amount of aspirin. It can reduce the risk of heart attack.
- Walk briskly every day. Try to take 10,000 steps a day.
Warnings
- This article contains general information only and cannot in any way replace medical advice.
- Don't ignore or underestimate the symptoms of a heart attack. It is preferable to be prompt in the distress call.
- There is an email circulating advising to cough during a heart attack. This is fake news. While it can be useful in certain situations under medical supervision, in general it can be dangerous.
