How to recognise a heart attack

Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. On average, one Australian dies every 12 minutes as a result of a cardiovascular disease.

Man holding chest Source: Getty Images/ljubaphoto

Key points

• Warning signs vary from person to person
• Always call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack.
• Having a healthy lifestyle is the key in preventing heart disease

The sooner you recognise the signs of a heart attack and seek treatment, the higher the chance you'll have a full recovery.

According to AustraliaWide First Aid, coronary heart disease has been the leading cause of all deaths for over half a century.

Data from The Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that 12,728 people died of heart disease in Australia in 2021.

A healthy life reduces the chances of suffering a heart attack but if it happens you need to remember the signs and act fast.

What happens when somebody has a heart attack?

“When there's a narrowing and a blockage of one of the main arteries that supply the heart muscle and the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen and other nutrients, the heart can't survive under those conditions,” the Australian Heart Foundation’s cardiologist Garry Jennings tells SBS Radio.

Current Australian guidelines recommend that you book a heart health check with your doctor to evaluate your risk, if you're aged 45 years or older, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.

Heart xray graphic Source: Getty Images/zf L

What are some of the risk factors?

High blood pressure

When your blood pressure is high your heart and arteries can become overloaded. But it can be treated, so see your doctor regularly to check your blood pressure.

Woman patient and doctor checking blood pressure Source: Getty Images/Terry Vine

High cholesterol

Try to avoid excess cholesterol in your diet. An imbalance of cholesterol in your blood can lead to a heart attack or stroke. 

Unhealthy diet and diabetes

An unhealthy diet can lead to being overweight which increases the risk of heart disease and other health problems. By maintaining a healthy and balanced diet you can reduce your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Diabetes Australia also gives recommendations on how to manage your diabetes to help prevent a heart attack.

Vegetables Source: Getty Images/Peter Dazeley

Lack of physical activity

Being inactive and sitting for too long is not good for your heart health. Health professionals suggest doing about 30 minutes of exercise every day. Walking is a good way to get you started, says cardiologist Garry Jennings.

More and more our lives revolve around sitting at a computer, sitting at work, sitting in a bus or a car going to work. One of the perils of modern life is that we sit too much and that plays to the heart disease and other conditions.

Woman running Source: Getty Images/lzf

Smoking

You're at an increased risk of heart attack if you're a smoker. Being smoke free is one of the best ways to protect your heart. And once you quit, the extra risk is reduced.

Ashtray and ciggies Source: Getty Images/seksan Mongkhonkhamsao

Social isolation and depression

People without a social support network, family or friends can be at a great risk of heart problems. Depression can be another contributing factor. Beyond Blue recommends if you feel depressed for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor, a family member or someone you know well.

Some risk factors you cannot change

The Heart Foundation outlines some of the risk factors which we have no control over,  like age, family history or ethnic background. For example people from the Indian sub-continent have higher-risk of having a heart-attack than others.

What are some of the symptoms?

Experiencing discomfort and chest pain

While warning signs vary from person to person, the first sign to look out for is chest pain. You can experience sudden tightness around your chest.

Cardiologist Rob Perel from Queensland Cardiovascular Group says to look out for chest pain.

“If it's an acute heart attack the chest pain will be severe and unrelenting. It will usually be present on the left side of the chest, but it can be more central. The pain will radiate through the jaw and down the left arm” says Rob Perel.

Experiencing discomfort in your arms, neck or back

The discomfort may spread to different parts of your upper body. Your arms may feel heavy or useless.

Feeling short of breath

You may experience a shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include having a choking sensation in your throat, nausea, cold sweats and feeling dizzy.

What to do?

Ambulances Source: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

The first thing to do when you're having a heart attack is to call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. “The ambulance officers will give you Aspirin when they turn up. You should sit down and rest and avoid putting extra stress on your heart until someone gets to you to further diagnose it and further treat it” says cardiologist Rob Perel.

For more information visit The Heart Foundation.