Heart attack
Would you be able to recognise if a member of your family was showing the signs and symptoms of having a heart attack and know what action to take?
Symptoms can include:
- Chest pain-tightness (like being pressed or squeezed by something heavy); the pain may move from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back.
- Shortness of breath, sweating, light headedness
ACT FAST CALL 999
What can cause a heart attack?
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of heart attacks; it is a condition where the major blood vessels that supply the blood to the heart get clogged up with plaques. Before a heart attack one of the plaques bursts causing a blood clot to develop; the clot then blocks the supply of blood running through the artery triggering an attack. Listed below are some risks that could increase CHD (coronary heart disease):
- Smoking
- A high fat diet
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Being overweight or obese
Teachers This subject can be quite worrying for small children. Many pupils who witness a heart attack or cardiac arrest want to talk about it in the classroom. It’s always important to address these emotions, preferably with the parents or guardians present.
Parents and carers Children are never too young to take action. If heart disease or stroke runs in your family it might be good to chat with your child about looking out for the symptoms. You could even practice calling 999 on a toy phone.