Life

10 per cent of heart attack sufferers ignore symptoms for two days

Symptoms include chest pain, pain in other parts of the body such as the arms, shortness of breath and an overwhelming sense of anxiety
Symptoms include chest pain, pain in other parts of the body such as the arms, shortness of breath and an overwhelming sense of anxiety Symptoms include chest pain, pain in other parts of the body such as the arms, shortness of breath and an overwhelming sense of anxiety

ONE in 10 heart attack sufferers ignore the symptoms for two days or more before seeking medical help, a charity has found.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said people are putting their lives at risk by delaying seeking urgent assistance.

A poll of heart attack survivors found that one in three initially thought they were suffering from indigestion.

Fifty per cent did not seek medical help for more than an hour; this includes 9 per cent who delayed for two to three hours, 7 per cent who delayed between three and five hours and 11 per cent who waited two days or longer before seeking medical assistance.

The BHF is urging people to be more aware of the signs of a heart attack – which occurs when a blood clot forms in a narrowed coronary artery, cutting off the blood supply to the heart.

Symptoms include chest pain, pain in other parts of the body such as the arms, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, coughing or wheezing and an overwhelming sense of anxiety.

The charity said that nearly half of potentially salvageable heart muscle is lost within one hour of the coronary artery being blocked.

But only 26 per cent of the 500 heart attack survivors surveyed managed to get treatment in that time.

"It's extremely alarming that the majority of people who suffer heart attacks mistake their symptoms for something less serious and delay getting medical help," said BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie.

"Every second counts when someone has a heart attack. The sooner people recognise their symptoms and call 999, the better their chance of recovery."