Viva: signs of heart attacks

What is a heart attack and its signs and symptoms that we should pay more attention to so that we prevent it or know what to do in case this incident happened?

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When it comes to heart attack, many Australians still have no clue what are the signs and symptoms and what to do or when and how to seek help.

According to health experts, genetics and lifestyle factors like smoking, lack of exercise and unhealthy diet increase the likelihood of a heart attack.

Research also shows that men experience heart attacks double compared to women. People of Asian, Maori, African and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds are genetically predisposed to heart diseases.

Moreover, the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018's data shows over 17,000 Australians die from a heart attack and a heart attack is one of the leading causes of death.

Clinical scientist Shoukat Khan who facilitates Heart Support Australia, a national programs educating people about the prevention and recovery from cardiac events says we should pay more attention to these signs and symptoms which would lead to a heart attack.

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the centre of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that will go away and then that they’ll come back again. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure or squeezing or fullness or pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body or in one or both arms, in the back or even in the neck, or in the stomach. Shortness of breath may occur with or without chest discomfort, breaking out in cold sweat or nausea or light headedness.

Experts say that by doing little things each day apart from taking our medications could help to change our life for the better and could help us in the long run, help to keep us stay healthy and preventing heart attack or recurrence of a second heart attack within the first 6 months or the first year after the first heart attack incident has happened.

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