Is it just a ‘twinge’ or is it a heart attack? How to tell the difference
Many people get confused between the medical terms used to describe certain heart conditions — but as we will see, knowing how to tell the difference between angina, a heart attack and a cardiac arrest could be vital in a first aid emergency.
all require a different course of action — but in the case of a cardiac arrest every minute counts. This is because a person’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest reduce by 10 per cent with every minute that passes.
ANGINA, HEART ATTACK OR CARDIAC ARREST?
PeoPle often use the term heart attack interchangeably with cardiac arrest — but they are not the same and the treatment for each is different.
In a heart attack, the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a clot.
Meanwhile, a cardiac arrest is where the heart stops pumping blood around the body and the person is unresponsive, not breathing normally and showing no signs of life.
angina is a type of chest pain someone gets when the arteries carrying blood to their heart muscle become narrowed.
This can restrict blood supply and cause chest pain. angina attacks are usually caused by physical exertion, stress or excitement. But if someone has unstable angina, their painful attacks can have no obvious cause.
angina alone is not life-threatening, but it puts one at far greater risk of a life-threatening heart attack or stroke.
once diagnosed, it can be managed with medication to treat any future attacks, prevent further episodes and reduce the risk of developing heart attacks and strokes.
ANGINA
SYMPTOMS
Pain in the chest, which may spread to the jaw and arms Shortness of breath Sudden and extreme tiredness
Anxiety WHAT TO DO
Help the person to sit down and reassure them.
encourage or help them to take any angina medication they may have.
If they don’t have any medication and the pain does not go away after a few minutes, call 999 or 112.
If they are still in pain five minutes after taking medication, suggest a second dose.
If they are still in pain after a further five minutes, call 999 or 112 immediately.
HEART ATTACK
SYMPTOMS Shortness of breath Crushing chest pain Dizziness Pale skin and blue lips Irregular pulse Nausea Impending sense of doom Victim will still be responsive
WHAT TO DO
Call 999 or 112 and explain that you think the person is having a heart attack. Help them to sit down. Give them an aspirin (300mg) and ask them to chew it slowly — chewing it will release the medicine into the body quicker than swallowing it whole.
ask them to take their own angina medication if applicable and monitor their condition until help arrives.
If they become unresponsive, start CPR (see right).
CARDIAC ARREST
SYMPTOMS Unresponsive Not breathing normally Not moving or showing signs of life WHAT TO DO Call 999 or 112 for emergency help. lie the person flat on their back. Perform CPR (detailed right). yo u need to get a defibrillator to shock their heart. But if you are on your own, do not leave the person to find one. Call someone to fetch a defibrillator, or wait for the paramedics.
PERFORMING CPR
PeRfoRM CPR on an older person in exactly the same way as you would on a younger one.
Do not be deterred by the risk of breaking their ribs, says alan Weir, head of clinical operations at St John ambulance.
‘While this risk may be higher in older people, who have weaker bones, it is far better to take action.
‘a broken rib can be repaired, but without CPR the patient may not survive.’
HOW TO PERFORM CPR
Give 30 chest compressions, pressing down 5-6cm at a rate of 100-120 a minute. The beat of The Bee Gees’ song Stayin’ alive or the nursery rhyme nellie The elephant can help you keep the right rate. Then give the casualty two rescue breaths. Repeat the pattern of 30 compressions and two rescue breaths (30:2) until help finally arrives.