Heart Week 2 – 8 May
The Heart Foundation has released an alarming new survey revealing that more than half of all Australians would not be confident about what to do if they were having a heart attack.
To mark Heart Week (2-8 May), the Heart Foundation has released new research which reveals that;
- While most people know the typical warning signs of a heart attack such as chest pain and arm pain, nearly nine out of ten people (88%) do not recognize other equally serious signs, including jaw, neck, shoulder or back pain
- More than half of all people (55%) feel ‘not very confident’ or ‘not at all confident’ in knowing what to do in the event of a heart attack
- Almost a quarter (23%) of Australians would not call an ambulance if they thought they were having a heart attack
Heart attacks claim one Australian life every 46 minutes and in New South Wales (NSW), the number of hospitalisations for heart attacks is rising dramatically – from 13,688 in 2001-02 to 18,021 in 2006-07.
Raising awareness about the range of heart attack warning signs is a key priority for the Heart Foundation as worryingly, more than half of heart attack deaths occur before the person reaches hospital.
“Heart attack warning signs aren’t always what you think. Symptoms are not necessarily sudden or severe and some people don’t experience chest pain at all,” said Tony Thirlwell, Heart Foundation chief executive officer, NSW.
“Knowing the warning signs and what to do in the event of a heart attack could save your life or the life of a loved one.
“Quick action is essential because the longer you wait, the more your heart muscle is damaged,” Mr Thirlwell added..
The Heart Foundation research also suggests that many people avoid calling an ambulance for fear of embarrassment if it turns out to be a false alarm.
Warning Signs of Heart Attack:
Heart attack warning signs may include pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in one or more parts of the upper body (chest, neck, jaw, arm(s), shoulder(s) or back) in combination with other symptoms of nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness or a cold sweat.
For more information, visit http://www.heartattackfacts.org.au or call the Heart Foundation’s Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87.
