And what is the most important one to look out for?
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/1
When a person on TV has a heart attack, they typically:
- Clutch their chest
- Say, 'Urgh!'
- And then dramatically fall over
That's not very realistic.
Heart attack symptoms are often much more subtle.
/2
There are some 'Classic' symptoms, however:
• A weight or band-like sensation across the chest
• A sensation of that pain in the shoulder or down the arm
• Discomfort in the neck, teeth or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
•An 'Impending Sense of Doom'
/3
But there are lots of 'atypical' symptoms also:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sudden loss of energy
• Generally unwell
• 'Heart Burn'
• Dizziness
Some people might think they just have a 'cold' or 'flu'
/4
Females can and often do present with more 'Atypical' features
And less of the 'Classic' symptoms.
Sometimes the symptoms are very hard to distinguish from other issues such as:
- Asthma
- Reflux
- Muscle Pain etc.
/5
What is ESSENTIAL to remember is if you 'THINK' you are having a heart attack
Then get to a hospital ASAP.
If you are having a heart attack, your heart muscle is dying, and the quicker you get treatment, the less likely there is to be significant damage done.
/6
"But won't it be really embarrassing for me if it just turns out to be heartburn from eating a takeaway?"
NO!!!!
1 in 10 people presenting to Emergency Depts have chest pain.
Most will not be having heart attacks.
And that's a good thing!
/7
Hospitals have dedicated pathways to assess heart-related symptoms.
It is standard practice to evaluate and then safely discharge people having ruled out heart-related symptoms.
If you don't present however.....
Thats a totally different problem.
/8
Heart Attack symptoms can be 'Classical' or they can be 'Atypical'.
What's most important is that you don't take any chances.
If you think its a heart attack
Then let the staff at a hospital decide.
Don't make that decision yourself.
/9
That's a wrap!
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