A condition where the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscles with blood, become narrowed and cannot carry sufficient blood to meet the increased demands during exertion or excitement.
An attack forces the casualty to rest; the pain should ease soon after.
Signs & Symptoms
o Gripping chest pain, often spreading to the left arm and jaw
o Pain or tingling in the hand
o Weakness, often sudden and extreme
o Lips may become blue.
o Casualty may be short of breath.
Management
o Help casualty to sit down and support his back and place padding his knees
o Reassure casualty. Advice him to rest.
o Loosen tight clothing around neck, chest, and waist.
o If symptom persist, arrange removal to hospital.
o Nitro-glycerine/GTN tablets are prescribed to persons subjected to angina attacks. This can be placed under the tongue at the onset of episode.
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Heart Attack
A heart attack is most commonl caused by a sudden obstruction of the blood supply to part of the heart muscle for example, because of a clot in a coronary artery.\
The main risk is the heart will stop beating
Drugs like aspirin and other medications that dissolve the clot are used to limit the extent of damange to the heart muscles.
Signs & Symptoms
Sudden crushing pain in the centre of chest sometimes described as severe indigestion. This may spread to arms, throat, jaw, abdomen or back and does not subside with rest.
Sudden giddiness causing casualty to sit downs or leans against a wall.
Skin may become ashen.
Lips and extremities may become blue (cyanosis).
Profuse sweating may develop.
Breathlessness may occur.
Fast pulse, which may become weaker and irregular.
Symptoms and signs of shock.
Unconsciousness may develop.
Breathing and heart may stop.
Management
Rest and Reassure
Be ready to resuscitate (CPR) if casualty becomes unconscious
Urgent removal to hospital
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very informative.. keep it up!
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