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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConsultant Cardiologist Dr Deoraj Zamvar from Yorkshire says the risk of having a heart attack in first generation South Asians is up to 50 per cent higher than the local population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeart attack can be the first sign of heart disease in some individuals,\u201d says Dr Zamvar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey may have classic symptoms such as chest pain that can be described as a feeling of tightness, pressure, heaviness, or a squeezing across the chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt can feel like the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople may experience shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness or light headedness or nausea an overwhelming feeling of anxiety or unease – similar to a panic attack. The chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Particular concerns have been raised about women delaying accessing care – whilst men are more likely to recognise the symptoms of a heart attack, women may dismiss symptoms. Women\u2019s risk of a heart attack increases after the menopause, so it\u2019s really important to take these symptoms seriously.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile the most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen a person has signs of a heart attack, he or she should immediately call 999 and describe the symptoms,\u201d adds Dr Zamvar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeart attack is caused by blockage of the blood vessel (coronary artery) that supplies blood to the heart muscles. The longer the time between onset of symptoms of a heart attack and receiving treatment, the poorer the chances of recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 chest pain \u2013 a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest Rifhat Malik, a devoted and tireless charity fundraiser from Leeds says that despite having a heart attack she\u2019s determined to fulfill the obligations that she\u2019s made to helping feed those on the poverty line, the homeless and refugees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rifhat had heart attack symptoms over six days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was at a local gym teaching Zumba, and began to have signs of a heart attack, but initially dismissed them as she felt her symptoms weren\u2019t bad enough to call the paramedics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people dismiss the early signs of a heart attack, but it\u2019s important to take them seriously and call 999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had chronic fatigue and a little indigestion type pain in the middle of my chest but not enough for me to stop exercising,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSymptoms of a heart attack can include:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 pain in other parts of the body \u2013 it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy
\u2022 feeling lightheaded or dizzy
\u2022 sweating
\u2022 shortness of breath
\u2022 feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
\u2022 an overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)
\u2022 coughing or wheezing
The chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion.
While the most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI\u2019m not going to let a heart attack stop me\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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