UK Edition
One in three heart attacks feel like indigestion, warns British Heart Foundation
Half of heart attack sufferers do not seek help for more than an hour because they think they have indigestion or other minor conditions, it has emerged.
The British Heart Foundation claims that many people are unaware of the symptoms of a heart attack, which can include nausea, jaw pain, sweating and light-headedness. A survey of more than 500 heart attack survivors found that eight out of 10 failed to realise that they were having a heart attack, with one third mistaking their symptoms for indigestion.
Only one quarter of those surveyed managed to get medical treatment within an hour of the attack putting them at much greater risk of death and long term impairment.
Research has shown that nearly half of potentially salvageable heart muscle is lost within one hour of the coronary artery being blocked.
Despite the common perception that a heart attack is something that happens quickly with someone clutching their chest and keeling over, the survey results showed that more than 90 per cent of those surveyed remained conscious throughout.
“It’s extremely alarming that the majority of people who suffer heart attacks mistake their symptoms for something less serious and delay getting medical help. Every second counts when someone has a heart attack,” said Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation.
“The sooner people recognise their symptoms and call 999, the better their chance of recovery.”
“Research advances mean seven out of ten people now survive a heart attack. But most heart attacks occur without warning and we have no way of predicting when they will strike.”
Melanie Mully, 43, from Bishop Stortford, had a heart attack when she was just 38, but did not realise what was happening.
“It was the week before I was due to get married and my mind was more on place cards and where I was going to put everybody,” she said.
“The day it happened I was queuing to pay for a present when I started to feel all hot and sweaty.
“There was a pain in my arm and I had indigestion. I didn’t think anything of it as I’d had bouts throughout my recent pregnancy. The pain went on throughout the day, but I didn’t want to go through the hassle of sitting in a waiting room with a baby.
“Eventually that evening my heart attack led to a cardiac arrest and my heart stopped. Thankfully the paramedics arrived quickly and were able to resuscitate me.
“I wasn’t overweight and I had never smoked, it didn’t occur to me that this was something that could happen.”