A heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, typically caused by a blood clot.
It is a serious medical emergency and the NHS advices that you should call 999 and ask for an ambulance if you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack.
The lack of blood to the heart may cause severe damage to heart muscles and be life-threatening.
Despite being a relatively common health issue, there are several myths and misconceptions around it.
On World Heart Day, marked annually on September 29, here's a look at some of the most common myths about heart attack, according to Dr Jamie Brosch, GP and medical advisor to blood testing service Goodbody Clinic
Cardiac arrest and heart attack are the same
Dr Jamie Brosch from Goodbody Clinic dispels the misconception and explains how a heart attack and cardiac arrest are different.
He explains : "While a heart attack is a circulation problem, a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. A heart attack generally occurs as a result of a blocked artery, which stops the blood supply to the heart, with enough oxygen reaching the heart. Meanwhile a cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops beating and they stop breathing. Cardiac arrests can happen as a result of a heart attack and would generally be caused by an abnormal heart rhythm."
Despite being two different medical emergencies, Dr Brosch says we need immediate medical attention in both cases, advising us to call 999.
Heart disease only affects older people
While the risk of heart disease does definitely increase with age, heart disease can actually affect people of all ages.
In fact, the risk is higher for younger women on birth control or those who smoke. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will mitigate some of this risk.
Heart disease is caused by poor lifestyle and can be prevented if you’re fit and healthy
While a healthy lifestyle can reduce risk of heart disease, there is unfortunately no guarantee that you can prevent a heart attack by staying fit.
Some people are just genetically predisposed to inherited heart conditions like congenital heart disease. However, having a regular blood test can help monitor your cardiac risk.
Coughing during a heart attack will save your life
Dr Jamie Brosch from Goodbody Clinic breaks down the myth that coughing during a heart attack can save your life.
He said there is no medical evidence to support this claim.
He added:" If you suffer a cardiac arrest you would become unconscious and therefore unable to cough – without intervention you would die."
More men have heart attacks than women
It's a common belief that more men have heart attacks than women do. However, the data doesn't support this claim - cardiovascular disease kills as many women as men.
Dr Jamie Brosch adds: "This reinforces the fact that women need to be just as aware of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the symptoms of a heart attack."
He also advises that both men and women can take five key steps to reduce their risk of a heart attack – quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, exercise, eat a low fat/high fibre diet and moderate alcohol consumption.
If I don’t have chest pain it’s not a heart attack
Chest pain is thought to be the most obvious symptom of a heart attack.
However, it's important to remember that there are lots of possible symptoms that could indicate a heart attack, not just chest pain.
Dr Brosch reminds that women in particular are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea and back or jaw pain, than chest pain.
He added:" Some people don’t experience any chest pain at all, which means they quite often don’t recognise what’s happening."
What are symptoms of heart attack?
The symptoms of a heart attack can include:
- Chest pain – the chest can feel like it's being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object, and pain can radiate from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling weak or lightheaded, or both
- Nausea/vomiting
- Sweating
- Coughing or wheezing
- An overwhelming feeling of anxiety
