Recognizing and Administering First Aid to a Heart Attack Victim
By: Greg Garner
When a blockage occurs in any one or more of the heart’s vessels, one of the biggest killers in the US takes place… a heart attack. When this happens, deprived of blood, heart cells begin to die. If any part of the heart is deprived of blood for too long, cardiac arrest stops the heart, killing the victim. First aid for a heart attack is vital. Even more vital is professional emergency services. The faster a heart attack victim can get to a hospital, the better the chances of surviving the attack. When it turns into cardiac arrest, the odds of survival drop dramatically.
Time is of the Essence
Complete and proper training are vital on the part of the first aid caregiver who wants to master the art of cardio pulmonary resuscitation, otherwise known as CPR. Even more important than this is the ability to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. This is because most heart attack victims simply refuse to believe and recognize or they just do not know what to look for. In either event, a heart attack victim usually dies within two hours of the initial attack. Symptoms include but are not limited to…
Men
Crushing or heavy chest pain
Many men describe a throbbing pain in one or both arms. It is also described as a deep ache.
You may be unable to catch your breath. It is like being winded after a sprint. You cannot breathe deeply enough to get air.
A crushing and ominous feeling that you are about to die. The feeling of your impending demise
Experiencing a rapid and irregular heart rate
The feeling of a heaviness in the chest, also described as having a wet sack of cement on the chest
Feeling light-headed is not unusual with a heart attack in men.
Women
One study revealed that the majority of women knew a month beforehand that they were experiencing heart attack symptoms, including fatigue
An acute shortness of breath
Interrupted and irregular sleep
Heartburn
Weakness in the extremities, in particular, a weakness in the arms
Men and Women Differ
Oddly enough, most women who have suffered and lived through a heart attack reported no chest pain. Medical science still does not have an explanation for this and further study is needed. In all cases, both men and women, the key to survival for the heart attack victim is early detection. If you suspect you or someone you know is having a heart attack, contact emergency services immediately or get to a hospital fast. Every second not spent in the hospital being treated is critical. First aid treatment is limited and includes:
First Aid For Heart Attack
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack is a critical part of treatment. Early detection saves lives.
Call for help
It is best to have the victim stop whatever activity they are engaged in and sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
Be reassuring and speak to the victim in a calm manner. Recognizing they are having a heart attack, many victims make matters much worse by panicking.
If you have the training, be ready to start CPR. If the victim loses consciousness, monitor their breathing and pulse closely.
Don’t Smoke
The risk of heart attacks can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated by proper diet and regular exercise. See a physician for regular check-ups. Smoking is a leading cause of heart attack. If you can stop smoking, you should do so a soon as possible. If you smoke and are over the age of forty, the odds of becoming a heart attack victim are very high.
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