Would you be able to recognise if a member of your family, a friend or a passer-by was showing the signs and symptoms of having a heart attack and know what action to take?
Symptoms can include:
- Chest pain-tightness (like being pressed or squeezed by something heavy); the pain may move from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back.
- Shortness of breath, sweating, light headedness
ACT FAST CALL 999
When you have called 999, our call-takers will give you advice on what to do while the ambulance is on its way.
Watch the video below to find out more.
What can cause a heart attack?
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of heart attacks; it is a condition where the major blood vessels that supply the blood to the heart get clogged up with plaques.
Before a heart attack one of the plaques bursts causing a blood clot to develop; the clot then blocks the supply of blood running through the artery triggering an attack.
Listed below are some risks that could increase CHD (coronary heart disease):
- Smoking
- A high fat diet
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Being overweight or obese