First Aid Heart Attack

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying blood flow to the heart becomes blocked and stops the flow of oxygen-rich blood. The most common symptoms of heart attack are shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort and can be accompanied by pain in other parts of your body like the arm, neck, or jaw.

Angina chest pain often predicts and warns of potential damage to the heart’s health through coronary artery disease, high cholesterol levels, a blocked artery or blood vessels. Unlike a life-threatening heart attack, angina has shorter bouts that last 10 minutes or less without doing lasting damage.

Prolonged exposure to a lack of oxygen caused by a blockage to any part of the heart will result in heart failure leading to permanent heart muscle injury if left untreated.

What are the signs of a heart attack?

Chest pain or discomfort (angina) can feel like uncomfortable pressure, aching, numbness, squeezing, fullness or pain in your chest. It usually lasts for several minutes and comes back now and then. You may also experience dizziness followed by light-headedness that makes you feel faint. Nausea that leads to vomiting and short breath that interrupts your breathing with or without chest discomfort may be present.

What is the treatment for Heart Attack?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cpr is the predominantly applied emergency procedure given to anyone who has had a cardiac arrest. It is a simple process that any person who knows how to do it can provide – even children. Defibrillation using an automated external defibrillator (AED) is another option for trying to get your heart beating again after it’s stopped. You should be aware that if you survive having a cardiac arrest, your doctor will investigate what caused the initial attack and then implement treatment plans tailored specifically for you-this could include medications, lifestyle changes or exercise routines to prevent future attacks from happening.

What lifestyle changes do I make after a cardiac arrest?

Lifestyle and behaviour choices
A healthy eating plan that may reduce your daily calorie intake
Daily exercise routine. Even a gentle walk around the block daily gives you immediately increased health benefits plus added vitamin D.
Where applicable, pet therapy to combat stress might be an option suggested

Having a cardiac arrest is a significant life-changing event in many ways. It doesn’t just affect the person who has the cardiac arrest but has a flow-on effect extending to family and friends. It reminds us that life is fragile and that the body and life have been taken for granted, often misused, mistreated, and that all the warning signs leading up to the cardiac event were ignored. One good thing to come from surviving a heart attack is that you are forced to stop taking life, people, and your body for granted. You are forced to make the changes needed to prevent or reduce your chances of having future arrests, and it has a way of reconnecting family and friends.

What causes a heart attack?

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of a heart attack. The narrowed artery due to plaque causes less blood flow and can block off, causing damage to the muscle. A narrowing of the coronary artery causes heart attacks due to plaque build-up. Plaque is made out of fat and cholesterol – it can block blood flow and lead to heart muscle damage during a heart attack. Heart attacks happen when plaques from your artery wall ruptures or forms clots that close off those arteries. As a result, less blood gets delivered throughout your body’s tissues, which may cause pain in the chest area or shortness of breath because there isn’t enough oxygen for cells’ needs.

The most common heart attack warning signs are chest discomfort or pain (angina). Angina can feel like uncomfortable pressure, aching, numbness, squeezing, fullness or pain in your chest. This discomfort can spread to your arms, neck, jaw or back. It can last for several minutes or come and go. Dizziness, light-headedness, feeling faint or feeling anxious. Nausea, indigestion, vomiting, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing – with or without chest discomfort. Sweating or a cold sweat.

How do you know if you are having a heart attack?

The Heart Foundation has a detailed page for Heart attack symptoms and can be cited as saying, ‘No two heart attacks are the same, even for the same person. You may have just one or a combination of symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms of a heart attack are not the classic ‘crushing chest pain’ you may expect.

You may feel less obvious symptoms, such as a burning feeling in your chest and shortness of breath. Sometimes you may have no ‘warning sign symptoms’ at all. Your doctor may even discover that you have had a silent heart attack.

Medical tests can only diagnose a heart attack. The only way to know what you’re experiencing is to seek urgent help. At worst, you may have something less serious. At best, you will receive the treatment that you need. Do not ignore the warning signs of a heart attack. Every minute counts.’ Download the Heart Foundation heart attack action plan.

If you’re experiencing the warning signs of a heart attack or are worried you or someone you know is having a heart attack –call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

What is the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest?

Heart attack

A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying blood to your heart becomes blocked and stops the flow of oxygen. When this happens, the person is usually conscious and maybe complaining about chest discomfort or pain.

Cardiac arrest

Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you witness a cardiac arrest.

A cardiac arrest occurs when your heart stops beating due to an electrical malfunction. A person in cardiac arrest will be unconscious, unable to respond to voice prompts, and will not be breathing. This is because their heart has suddenly stopped beating, and blood can no longer flow to the brain, heart and lungs.

A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If the heart is not restarted immediately, cardiac arrest can lead to brain damage and death. Every second counts! Having chest compressions and using AED devices can improve someone’s chances for survival if they have gone into a cardiac arrest

First Aid Courses

It is essential that every person living has the ability to provide life saving CPR. Knowing how to correctly give CPR and save a life is so vital they teach it in schools from a young age. However, as we get older, times change and so do advances and bet practice in providing First Aid. If you have never taken a basic First Aid course or your skills could use updating, First Aid Pro has a range of nationally accredited training courses in every state with course options that suit your lifestyle. Don’t wait until it is too late, visit our site and book a course today. We can’t wait for you to meet our amazing trainers and become certified today! Get your entire workforce ready and able to spring into action in any emergency with our group bookings.