NHS chiefs want more people to be aware of these key warning signs
The NHS is urging people to “spread the word” by sharing three symptoms to look out for when someone is having a heart attack. Posting on X, the NHS shared several images of what to do in such an emergency.
They wrote: “Do you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? Know what to do in these emergencies and help spread the word.
‘Do you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?’ The NHS then posted what individuals have to do when someone is having a cardiac arrest, they wrote:
“The person will be unconscious and not breathing, or not breathing normally. The faster you act, the better their chances of survival. If you think someone is having a cardiac arrest, call 999 and start CPR immediately.”
Meanwhile, the NHS also shared what to do if someone is having a heart attack. They posted: “The person will usually be conscious and may experience symptoms including chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
“If you think someone is having a heart attack, call 999 immediately.”
Other symptoms listed on the NHS website, include pain in the left arm, sweating, feeling sick or vomiting and coughing or wheezing. Another symptom to look out for in a cardiac arrest is that the individual doesn’t respond to any sound or touch.
According to the NHS, a cardiac arrest is when the “heart stops beating in a normal way, preventing blood from pumping around the body”. The health organisation’s website has shared what to do in case of an emergency:
- Danger: Keep calm and check the scene is safe to approach
- Response: Shout “are you alright?” and shake the person’s shoulders
- Shout for help: Send someone for help and call 999
- Airway: Tilt the head back gently to open the airway
- Breathing: Check for normal breathing by looking at the chest to see if it is rising and falling or listening for abnormal sounds such as infrequent and noisy gasps
- Compressions: If the patient is not breathing normally, start hands-only CPR pushing hard and fast in the centre of the chest
Elsewhere, if you come across someone having a heart attack, the NHS recommends following this checklist while waiting for an ambulance:
- Sit the person down and make them comfortable
- Don’t give them anything to eat or drink
- If available, ask them to take a 300mg aspirin tablet to chew slowly (unless they are under 16 or allergic)
For more information on what to do or what to look out for visit the NHS website.
