Every five minutes, someone in the UK suffers a heart attack, and around 1.4 million people have survived one. The risk of having a heart attack grows with age, and men are more likely to have one than women, especially at a younger age. Women are more likely to have one after they have gone through the menopause.
Seven out of ten people will survive a heart attack, with the number climbing to more than nine out of ten if they receive early medical treatment. Recognising the signs of a heart attack and getting medical attention as soon as possible will increase your chance of survival.
What causes a heart attack?
Heart attacks occur when a part of the heart muscle suddenly loses blood supply. The blood flow to the heart becomes blocked and without this supply, the heart muscles can be damaged and begin to die. Blockages are typically caused by a build-up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the heart’s arteries (coronary arteries).
Without treatment, the heart muscles will be irreversibly damaged.
What are the symptoms and signs of a heart attack?
Symptoms often appear slowly and can last for hours, days, or even weeks before a heart attack happens. During a heart attack, the heart does not completely stop beating, but the longer you wait to get care, the more damage is done to your heart.
The symptoms of a heart attack are similar to those of other conditions, and it might be easy to overlook the early warning signals of a heart attack; typical symptoms include:
- Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching across your chest
- Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the stomach
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Light-headedness or sudden dizziness
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- An overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)
- Coughing or wheezing
Seeking medical attention
If you suspect you are experiencing a heart attack, call 999 immediately and wait for an ambulance. If you are alone, do not attempt to drive to the hospital. Stay calm, unlock your door and lay down in plain sight so that the ambulance staff can swiftly enter your home and locate you quickly.
A note on aspirin
The NHS recommends that, while you wait for the ambulance, if you have aspirin (and are not allergic to it), slowly chew and swallow an adult-size tablet (300mg). Aspirin thins the blood, improving blood flow to the heart.
What are the risk factors that increase your chances of having a heart attack?
Certain lifestyle factors can influence your chances of having a heart attack, including:
- smoking
- a high-fat diet
- being overweight or obese
- physical inactivity
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, you are at greater risk of having a heart attack.
How to reduce your chances of having a heart attack
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death, and while you can’t change some risk factors like family history or age, you can take other steps to reduce your risk, such as:
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Be more physically active
- Keep a healthy weight
- Don’t smoke (NHS stop smoking services)
- Reduce your alcohol consumption
Other preventive actions include having regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks, taking any prescribed medications, and managing diabetes if you have it.
More information on heart-healthy diets, support groups, and other useful materials can be found at the following websites:
