HEART ATTACKS
ANGINA and HEART ATTACK
ANGINA
Onset: Sudden, usually during exercise or stress or extremes of weather
Pain: Vice-like squashing pain often described as “dull, tightness or pressure”. Can be mistaken for indigestion.
Location of Pain: Central chest area, may radiate into either arm, usually the left or neck, jaw, back/shoulders
Skin: Pale, may be sweaty
Duration: Usually lasts 3-8 minutes, rarely longer
Pulse: Variable depending on which area has had lack of oxygen. Often becomes irregular and misses beats.
Other signs and symptoms: Shortness of breath, weakness, anxiety.
Relief: Resting, reducing stress and taking nitro-glycerin medication.
NB: Serious angina can come on at rest and if you're getting angina, particularly at rest, it's time to seek medical advice as it's a good predictor of heart attack risk.
HEART ATTACK
Onset: Sudden, can occur at rest.
Pain: Vice-like squashing pain often described as “dull, tightness or pressure”. Can be mistaken for indigestion.
Location of Pain: Central chest area, may radiate into either arm, usually the left or neck, jaw, back/shoulders.
Skin: Pale, grey colour, may sweat profusely
Pulse: Variable depending on which area has had lack of oxygen. Often becomes irregular and misses beats.
Other signs and symptoms: Shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, sense of “impending doom”
Relief: Nitro-glycerin may give partial or no relief. Get patient to hospital asap.
DIAL 112 FOR AN AMBULANCE IF YOU SUSPECT:
• Heart attack
• The casualty is not diagnosed with having angina
• The symptoms are different or worse than the patient’s usual angina attacks
• Angina pain is not relieved by medication and rest after 20 minutes
• You are in any doubt.