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THE MOST IMPORTANT TWO
MINUTES YOU'LL EVER SEE.
MINUTES YOU'LL EVER SEE.
245 first loves die from a heart attack every day
FAQS
FAQs
- Why is a heart attack an emergency?
- What is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
- What happens if I call 999 and it turns out not to be a heart attack?
- Should I take aspirin every day to prevent a heart attack?
- Should I take an aspirin if I think I'm having a heart attack?
- Once I've called 999 what should I do while I wait for the ambulance?
- Is a heart attack a type of heart disease?
- Who is likely to develop coronary heart disease?
- What can I do to reduce my risk?
- How can I measure my risk?
- Should I have a risk assessment carried out?
- My father died from a heart attack. Does this mean that I will have a heart attack as well?
- Do women have heart attacks?
- Does alcohol reduce my risk of having a heart attack?
- Will stress increase my risk of having a heart attack?
Why is a heart attack an emergency?
A heart attack is an emergency because the sudden loss of blood supply to the heart muscle causes two problems:
- It increases the risk of having a life threatening irregular heart beat. Sadly, three out of every ten people who have a heart attack will die before they reach hospital because of an irregular heart beat. It causes their heart to stop and without emergency resuscitation they will die. That's why it's important to call 999 immediately and why the British Heart Foundation has trained people in the community how to respond appropriately to emergencies.
- It kills your heart muscle. Your heart needs a constant supply of blood and oxygen to keep it alive and healthy. Once that blood supply gets interrupted your heart muscle will start to die. If a large part of your heart muscle dies then it can have significant implications for your quality of life in the future. You could become very limited by chest pain and breathlessness.
Every second counts. If you think you are having a heart attack dial 999 immediately it could save your life and your heart muscle.
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What is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
A heart attack occurs when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked by a blood clot stopping the blood reaching the heart. The heart muscle is starved of the blood and oxygen that it needs and can be seriously and permanently damaged unless the blood flow is restored.
A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops. The heart stops beating, possibly as a result of an abnormal heart rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation. If someone is having a cardiac arrest they will suddenly collapse. They will not have a pulse and will not be breathing. Immediate mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage is needed until the arrival of the emergency services who may then need to defibrillate the patient in an attempt to restore the normal heart rhythm (this is the delivery of an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart with a special machine). In some cases a trained emergency responder will be able to use a defibrillator where one is available before the emergency services arrive. See our Heartstart UK programme.
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What happens if I call 999 and it turns out not to be a heart attack?
No harm done! Better to be safe than sorry and the paramedics will tell you that they would rather turn to up a false alarm than arrive too late because a person didn't want to bother 999 services. It's your life, or the life of someone you love, in your hands. Why take a risk?
Don't waste time - dial 999 immediately if you see the signs of a heart attack.
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Should I take aspirin every day to prevent a heart attack?
No, not unless you have been advised to do so by your GP. All medications carry potential side effects. For most people with coronary heart disease or at high risk of developing it, then the benefits of taking aspirin daily will outweigh the risks. There is a risk of bleeding associated with taking aspirin every day so its best to check with your GP if you really need it.
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Should I take an aspirin if I think I am having a heart attack?
If you think you're having a heart attack you should dial 999 immediately for an ambulance. You should then sit and rest while you wait for the paramedics to arrive.
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If you are not allergic to aspirin and have some next to you, or someone who can fetch them for you very quickly, chew an aspirin.
Do not get up and wander around the house looking for an aspirin. This may put unnecessary strain on your heart at a time when you heart is in serious trouble.
Once I've called 999 what should I do while I wait for the ambulance?
If you are having a heart attack you should sit and rest while you wait for the paramedics to arrive.
If you are not allergic to aspirin and have some next to you, or someone who can fetch them for you very quickly, chew an aspirin.
Do not get up and wander around the house looking for an aspirin. This may put unnecessary strain on your heart at a time when you heart is in serious trouble.
Is a heart attack a type of heart disease?
A heart attack is usually a complication of coronary heart disease. The coronary arteries can become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls. (This process is called 'atherosclerosis' and the fatty material is called 'atheroma'.) In time, the artery may become so narrow that it cannot deliver enough oxygen-containing blood to the heart muscle when its demands are high such as when you are doing exercise. The pain or discomfort that happens as a result is called angina. Some people, but not everyone, with coronary heart disease, will have a heart attack.
In rare instances a heart attack can be caused by a clot that has travelled from another part of the body to the heart.
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Who is likely to develop coronary heart disease?
You are particularly likely to develop coronary heart disease if:
- you smoke any form of tobacco
- you have high blood pressure
- you have a high blood cholesterol level
- you take little physical activity, or
- you have diabetes.
Other risk factors are being overweight or obese, and having a family history of relatives having a heart attack or angina before the age of 55 for a man or 65 for a woman. (A 'risk factor' is something that increases your risk of developing the disease).
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What can I do to reduce my risk?
You can reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease and having a heart attack by avoiding smoking, taking regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity 5 times a week), eating a balanced diet which is rich in fruit and vegetables and low in salt and saturated fat.
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How can I measure my risk?
Talk to your GP or practice nurse about having an assessment to determine your risk of developing coronary heart disease. This will involve measuring your blood sugar, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and your weight and height. It will also involve an assessment of your smoking history and a history of your family's illness (did your mother, father, siblings or other close relatives acquire heart disease before the age of 55 if they were a man or 65 if they were a woman).
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should I have a risk assessment carried out?
All men and women over the age of 40 should approach their GP or practice nurse to have a risk assessment to determine their risk of developing coronary heart disease. If you are under 40 but are worried because someone in your family got heart disease when they were young or because they died prematurely from it then talk to your GP or practice nurse for advice.
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My father died from a heart attack. Does this mean that I will have a heart attack as well?
Having a close relative with coronary heart disease, or a relative who has has a heart attack prematurely, means you have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease yourself.
But this is just one risk factor and there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Avoid smoking, take regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity 5 times a week), eat a balanced diet which is rich in fruit and vegetables and low in salt and saturated fat.
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Do women have heart attacks?
Yes. Heart attacks and coronary heart disease can affect men and women. Please see our section on women and heart disease for more information.
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does alcohol reduce my risk of having a heart attack?
There is no evidence that non drinkers of alcohol should start drinking alcohol in order to reduce their risk of developing coronary heart disease or having a heart attack. However, if you do drink already, then drinking in moderate amounts can help to reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease and of having a heart attack. A man should have no more than 3-4 units a day and a woman no more that 2-3 units a day.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will seriously damage your heart muscle and your liver.
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Will stress increase my risk of having a heart attack?
It depends on how you handle stress and whether you like it. Some people thrive on stress, others can't cope and find it generally makes them unhappy
If you find that your coping mechanism for stress involves smoking, eating unhealthily and lounging on the sofa at the end of a hard day, then stress will play an indirect part in increasing your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
We know that stress can cause a short term increase in blood pressure and that it can encourage clotting in the arteries. We also know that in people with established coronary heart disease, intense emotional or physical stress can cause a heart attack. However, research so far has not found a direct link between stress and coronary heart disease. So far what we can say for certain is that it's really how you cope with stress that matters.
If you want more information on identifying if you are stressed of on how to cope with your stress levels, visit our BHF web page on stress.
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