Know the warning signs of a heart attack

Taking early action could save your life.

Margaret Kilby

Taking early action could save your life.

Margaret Kilby had her first heart attack at 35 years of age, but at first she didn’t recognise the warning signs.

Margaret and her husband were aboard a friend’s boat on Sydney Harbour when she started to feel nauseous and couldn’t eat. Margaret put this down to sea sickness. As the day progressed, she felt tightness in her chest, dizziness, pain in her left shoulder blade and a strangling sensation in her throat.

Eventually it dawned on her. “I looked my husband straight in the eyes and said, ‘I’m having a heart attack.’”

Margaret has since had four more heart attacks and double bypass surgery. “A heart attack is a terrifying experience, but knowing the warning signs and taking early action could save your life,” she said.

According to the Heart Foundation, warning signs of a heart attack can vary from person to person, and they may not always be sudden or severe.

Although chest pain or discomfort are common symptoms of a heart attack - as in Margaret’s case - some people will not experience chest pain at all, while others will experience only mild chest pain or discomfort.

Others may experience one symptom, while some experience a combination of symptoms including chest discomfort or pain; discomfort in arm(s), shoulder(s), neck, jaw or back.

Discomfort or pain in the chest can often feel like a heaviness, tightness or pressure. People who have had a heart attack have commonly described it as like “an elephant sitting on my chest”, “a belt that’s been tightened around my chest” or “bad indigestion”.

It’s important to recognise the warning signs of a heart attack, because every minute counts.

The earlier a blocked artery can be opened, and the blood flow restored to the heart, the greater the proportion of heart muscle that can be saved and the better the chances of survival.

For heart attack survivors, there is a small window of opportunity to minimise heart damage. After two hours the damage to the heart muscle may be irreversible and can result in permanent disability.

Too many people lose their lives because they take too long to call Triple Zero (000). Getting to hospital quickly can reduce the damage to your heart muscle and increase your chance of survival. In hospital, you will get treatment to help reduce the damage.

Tip that could save your life:

• Learn the warning signs of heart attack and know what to do.
• The sooner you recognise your heart attack and get treatment, the better.
• It’s OK to call triple zero (000).  The longer you wait, the more your heart muscle is damaged/dies.
• No two heart attacks are the same.
• And remember, it’s okay if it’s a false alarm - that’s the best thing that could happen.

For heart health information, call the Heart Foundation Helpline on 13 11 12 or visit  heartfoundation.org.au.

Originally published as Know the warning signs of a heart attack