Heart attack patients make wrong call
One in five people with heart attack warning signs would call their GP, a helpline or
hospital rather than calling Triple Zero (000), according to new research released by
the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
The study also revealed that almost nine out of ten nurses in general practice have
had patients with heart attack warning signs come to the surgery rather than calling
an ambulance.
If you think you could be having a heart attack, Triple Zero (000) is the only number
you should dial, said Dr Lyn Roberts, National CEO of the Heart Foundation.
Half of all heart attack deaths occur before people reach hospital so every minute
really does count and treatment starts the second you call Triple Zero (000).
An ambulance is the fastest and safest way to get to hospital if you re having a heart
attack and paramedics can start life-saving treatment if required.
Many people worry about being a burden to the ambulance service, especially if it
turns out to be a false alarm.
The reality is that paramedics would much rather attend to a false alarm than arrive
too late to save your life or the life of someone you love.
Heart attack warning signs aren t always what you think - symptoms are not
necessarily sudden or severe and some people don t experience chest pain at all, Dr
Roberts added.
The Heart Foundation survey of 12,567 people aged 30-65 found that:
o 20% would call a hospital, health help line or doctor if they were experiencing
discomfort in their chest combined with dizziness
o 12% would call a hospital, health help line or doctor if they were experiencing
severe chest pain combined with nausea
General practice has an important role to play to ensure that patients calling with life
threatening conditions such as heart attack warning signs are referred to emergency
services without delay.
The Heart Foundation is currently developing a strategy that will help support
reception staff within general practice to promptly identify patients who call or walk in
with heart attack warning signs.
.
Warning Signs of Heart Attack:
Heart attack warning signs may include pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in one
or more parts of the upper body (chest, neck, jaw, arm(s), shoulder(s) or back) in
combination with other symptoms of nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness or a cold
sweat.
For important information on recognising the warning signs of heart attack and to
download your own action plan visit www.heartattackfacts.org.au
or call the Heart
Foundation s Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87.