Heart attacks are a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.
A lack of blood to the heart can seriously damage it and can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of a heart attack can vary and can sometimes be mistaken for something much less serious, so it’s important to know what to look out for.
What are the symptoms?
Signs you or somebody else may be having a heart attack include pain in the chest, or in other parts of the body, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, and sweating.
Shortness of breath, feeling or being sick, coughing or wheezing, and feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety similar to having a panic attack are other symptoms.
Chest pain usually involves a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing in the centre of the chest.
While chest pain may seem like an obvious clue you are having a heart attack, and the pain can often be very severe, some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion.
In some cases, people may not feel any chest pain at all, which is especially the case in women, the elderly and people with diabetes.
“It’s possible to have a heart attack without experiencing ‘classic’ chest pain,” said the British Heart Foundation.
“This is more common in the elderly, women, or those with diabetes as the condition can cause nerve damage which can affect how you feel pain.”
Pain in other parts if the body can feel as if it is travelling from the chest to the arms, jaw, neck, back and abdomen.
“It’s the overall pattern of symptoms that helps to determine whether you are having a heart attack,” said the NHS.
“If you suspect the symptoms of a heart attack, dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.”
“Don’t worry if you have doubts. Paramedics would rather be called out to find an honest mistake has been made than be too late to save a person’s life.”
If you suspect you or somebody else are having a heart attack, it’s important to rest while waiting for the ambulance.
Aspirin can be given to the affected person, if they are not allergic to it, as this helps to thin the blood and restore the heart’s blood supply.
If you think you are having a heart attack, only take aspirin if it is readily available. Don’t get up and look for it as this may put unnecessary strain on the heart, warns the British Heart Foundation.
In some cases, a heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, which is when the heart stops beating.
Signs somebody may have gone into cardiac arrest include if they appear not to be breathing, they are not moving, or they don’t respond to any stimulation such as being touched or spoken to.