What to do if someone has a Heart Attack

You may have started the day on a high but would you know what to do if someone in your care, a relative or colleague had a heart attack?

What causes a heart attack?

Heart attacks occur when the heart muscle is starved of oxygen-rich blood, causing damage to the heart muscle.  Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the primary cause of heart attacks as it causes the coronary arteries to block up with deposits of cholesterol.  If these fatty deposits break off, it can cause a blood clot, which prevents the oxygen-rich blood from getting to the heart.

A heart attack is life threatening so it is vital that you act quickly.

How do you know if someone is having a heart attack?

As with most conditions or illnesses the symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person, however there are some common signs that you can look out for:

• Tightness or heaviness in the chest
• Tightness spreading to arms, neck, back or stomach
• Pale, cold & clammy skin sometimes with blueness around the lips
• Feeling light-headed or dizzy
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Overwhelming feeling of anxiety

What should you do if someone is having a heart attack?

Dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Do not delay, as the sooner you get treatment the greater the chances of survival. 

Assist the casualty into a comfortable position, ideally a half-sitting position with their knees bent and head and shoulders supported. This is commonly known as the ‘W’ position.

Try and put the casualty at ease by continually reassuring them.

Sit the casualty down, make them comfortable and continually reassure them

If there are aspirin nearby (and the casualty is not allergic to them) give one 300mg adult aspirin to chew, but do not leave the casualty alone to go searching for one.

Monitor the casualty. If they become unconscious and stop breathing, it is likely they have had a cardiac arrest. Time to start CPR! Don’t know how? Book yourself onto a First Response First Aid course by calling 01543 372888 today.

How can you prevent a heart attack?

There are many factors that can increase your risk of developing coronary heart disease, so if you want to decrease your chances of developing the disease it is a good idea to:

• Stop smoking
• Eat a low fat diet
• Reduce your cholesterol (if you have been told it is too high)
• Reduce your blood pressure (if you suffer with high blood pressure)
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Get regular exercise

Men are statistically more likely to have a heart attack than women, however if you have a parent or sibling with a history of heart disease, you are twice as likely to develop similar problems.

We hope you have found this information useful, and please show your support for National Heart Month by sharing this blog post, and helping to raise awareness about heart disease.