Heart Attack Warning Signs Every Australian Should Know

What Happens During a Heart Attack?

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot that forms on a ruptured cholesterol plaque inside a coronary artery. Without blood supply, the affected heart muscle begins to die within minutes.

Time is critical during a heart attack. The sooner blood flow is restored, the less permanent damage occurs to the heart muscle. This is why recognising the warning signs and calling 000 immediately is so important.

Classic Warning Signs

The most recognised symptom is chest pain or discomfort -- often described as a pressure, tightness, heaviness, or squeezing sensation in the centre of the chest. This may last for more than a few minutes, or it may come and go.

Other common symptoms include pain or discomfort spreading to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back, shortness of breath (with or without chest discomfort), cold sweats, nausea or vomiting, and light-headedness or dizziness.

How Symptoms Differ in Women

Women are more likely than men to experience atypical heart attack symptoms. While chest pain remains the most common symptom in both sexes, women more frequently report unusual fatigue in the days or weeks leading up to a heart attack, shortness of breath without significant chest pain, pain in the upper back, neck, or jaw rather than the classic left arm, nausea, vomiting, or indigestion-like symptoms, and a general feeling of being unwell or anxious.

These less typical symptoms mean that women are more likely to delay seeking help, which contributes to worse outcomes. If you experience any combination of these symptoms -- particularly if they are new, unusual, or worsening -- do not dismiss them.

What to Do If You Suspect a Heart Attack

Call 000 immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. An ambulance provides the fastest route to treatment and paramedics can begin life-saving treatment en route.

While waiting for the ambulance, chew one 300mg aspirin (unless you are allergic) as this helps to thin the blood and slow the clot. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and try to stay calm. Do not eat or drink anything other than the aspirin.

Even if you are not sure whether your symptoms are a heart attack, it is always better to call 000 and be assessed than to wait and risk permanent heart damage.

Preventing a Heart Attack Before It Happens

Many heart attacks are preventable through proactive management of risk factors. The major modifiable risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, being overweight, and excessive alcohol intake.

If you have one or more of these risk factors, a specialist cardiac assessment can determine whether you already have underlying coronary artery disease. A CT coronary angiogram directly images the coronary arteries and can detect plaque build-up years before it causes a heart attack. A stress echocardiogram can reveal whether parts of your heart are not receiving enough blood during exertion.

At Complete Heart Centre, all specialist consultations and cardiac tests are bulk billed through Medicare. Early detection and treatment of coronary artery disease is the most effective way to prevent a heart attack.