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Cardiac conditions

As a first aider you may see problems that are associated with heart disease.

Risk factors that contribute to heart disease include:

  • smoking
  • poor diet
  • obesity
  • lack of exercise
  • family history
  • high blood pressure

As a first aider, you may have to deal with three heart conditions:

  • angina
  • heart attack
  • cardiac arrest

Angina

Angina is a temporary chest discomfort or pain that typically comes on with exercise or emotional stress, and usually lasts only a matter of minutes.  Angina occurs because the arteries around the heart (coronary arteries) have narrowed due to fatty tissue or calcium build-up, and are therefore unable to deliver sufficient oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.



Image above: effects on the heart of angina

Heart attack
When one of the coronary arteries supplying the heart with blood becomes blocked, there is no blood flow to the tissues beyond the blockage. Oxygen deprivation results in death of heart muscle cells causing a heart attack.



Image above:  coronary artery blockages

Signs and symptoms of angina and heart attack

  • Discomfort or pain in the centre of the chest that may come on suddenly, or start slowly over minutes.
  • It may be described as tightness, heaviness, fullness or squeezing
  • The pain may spread to the neck, throat, jaw, shoulders, the back, either or both arms and into the wrists and
  • hands. (The pain may also be limited to any of these regions)
  • Sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness or feeling light-headed
  • Nausea and/or vomiting

Management of angina

  • Rest and reassure the conscious casualty - ensure that they stop all physical activity
  • Place the casualty in the most comfortable position, usually half-sitting up
  • Loosen any tight clothing around the neck and waist
  • If the casualty has been prescribed medication such as a tablet or oral spray to treat episodes of chest pain or
  • Angina, assist them to take this medication as they have been directed
  • If the pain or discomfort is not completely relieved within ten minutes, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance
  • Stay with the casualty until the ambulance arrives, monitor vital signs and be prepared to administer CPR

Management of heart attack

  • DRSABCD
  • Rest and reassure the conscious casualty - ensure that they stop all physical activity
  • Place the casualty in the most comfortable position - usually half-sitting up
  • Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance
  • Loosen any tight clothing around the neck and waist
  • Stay with the casualty until the ambulance arrives
  • Monitor vital signs
  • Be prepared to perform CPR
  • If the casualty is unconscious, or is lapsing into unconsciousness, place the casualty on their side in the lateral position

"Never give a casualty someone else's heart medication"