Spotting the signs of a heart attack are something everyone needs to know. Experts warn someone dies of a heart attack every three minutes – but quick treatment can make a major difference.
But while many people could identify chest or arm pain as being a red flag for the potential killer there are other signs which are much less known. And one of these appears in the back.
The Lancaster Orthopedic Group says pain between the shoulder blades can indicate a heart attack. It says: “A heart attack is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked.
“Heart attacks can cause chest pain, but they can also cause pain in other parts of the upper body, including the shoulder blades, neck, jaw, and arms. Pain between the shoulder blades is a more uncommon symptom of a heart attack, but it is important to be aware of it.”
According to the British Heart Foundation heart and circulatory diseases cause one in four of all deaths in the UK. That is more than 170,000 deaths each year or an average of 480 deaths each day or one every three minutes.
There are around 100,000 hospital admissions in the country each year due to heart attacks – or one every five minutes. And thanks to speedy treatment there are about 1.4 million people alive in the UK today who have survived a heart attack.
Research shows the longer the time it takes between having a heart attack and getting medical treatment the higher the risk of dying. The Cleveland Clinic says: “Survival can be as high as 90% if treatment starts within the first minutes after sudden cardiac arrest. The rate drops by about 10% each minute longer.
“Sudden cardiac arrest can be fatal if it lasts longer than eight minutes without CPR. Brain damage can happen after just five minutes.”
There are a number of signs to watch for. The British Heart Foundation says symptoms vary from person to person.
Common symptoms can include:
- pain or discomfort in your chest that happens suddenly and doesn’t go away
- pain that spreads to your left or right arm, or to your neck, jaw, back or stomach. For some people the pain or tightness is severe, while for others it’s uncomfortable. It may feel like heaviness, or a burning pain similar to indigestion
- feeling sick, sweaty, light-headed or short of breath.
Less common symptoms include:
- a sudden feeling of anxiety that can feel similar to a panic attack
- lots of coughing or wheezing due to a build-up of fluid in the lungs.
But the BHF warns: “It’s possible to have a heart attack without experiencing all these symptoms, and it’s important to remember everyone experiences pain differently.
“This is more likely in elderly people or people with diabetes, as the condition can cause nerve damage which affects how you feel pain. Discomfort in the chest can be caused by many things from a heart attack to indigestion and muscle strain.”
What should I do if I think I’m having a heart attack?
The BHF says: “It’s essential to dial 999 if you have any symptoms that could be a heart attack. If you think you need to be seen before you can speak to your GP but you don’t think you’re having a heart attack, call 111 for an assessment.
“Don’t delay because you think hospitals are too busy – the NHS still has systems in place to treat people for heart attacks. If you delay, you are more likely to suffer serious heart damage and more likely to need intensive care and to spend longer in hospital.”
It adds: “It’s important you get medical attention immediately. Don’t worry about wasting paramedics’ time – a heart attack is a medical emergency.”
You should:
- call 999 for an ambulance
- sit down and stay calm
- take 300mg aspirin if you have it and you’re not allergic
- wait for the ambulance.