People in Derry are being given advice about how to spot the signs of a heart attack and what course of action to take.
The Heart Attack Awareness campaign was launched at Altnagelvin Hospital along with figures that reveal more than a quarter of people suffering heart attack like symptoms waited 12 or more hours before calling for help.
The findings come from a H
eart Attack Awareness Audit carried out by the Western Health and Social Care Trust and British Heart Foundation (BHF) on 282 patients who presented with chest pain symptoms between 1 July, 2009 and 31 August, 2009 at the hospital.
It was also revealed that, worryingly, 37% of people who presented to hospital with chest pain stated their first call for assistance was to a GP, whereas only 26% of people called 999. Additionally, the audit identified that two-thirds of people did not realise they could be having a heart attack.
The Heart Attack Awareness Campaign is being piloted in the western area over the next six months in districts from which patients are most likely to present to Altnagelvin’s cardiology service. The aim of the campaign is to increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and to urge people with chest pain symptoms to take immediate action and call 999.
Stephanie Leckey, Community Development Co-ordinator and Campaign Lead for BHF Northern Ireland, says: “People assume that a heart attack will be an overwhelming crushing chest pain, however, symptoms vary from person to person.
“Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and calling 999 gives you the best possible chance of survival.”
Speaking on behalf of Western Health & Social Care Trust, Dr Albert McNeill, lead clinician for cardiologym said “Every second counts in the treatment of patients with heart attacks.”
Eamonn O’Donnell, who represents North West Taxi Proprietors, attended the launch and said he wanted to ensure all of his members are made aware of this life saving information.
Mr. O’Donnell said: “Like many local people I assume the symptoms of a heart attack are quite dramatic, as you would sometimes see on TV when someone grasps their chest and collapses.”
“I didn’t know that the symptoms for a heart attack vary from one person to another for example, that some people are more likely to experience ‘unusual symptoms’ such as a dull pain, ache or a ‘heavy’ feeling in the chest.”
For more information on heart attack symptoms visit bhf.org.uk or www.2minutes.org.uk
