WALTHAM FOREST: "Don't ignore heart attack symptoms"

6:42pm Monday 12th May 2008

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DON'T ignore the symptoms of a heart attack.

That's the message behind a new campaign launched in Waltham Forest and 12 other London boroughs.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and NHS London is warning people that not recognising symptoms, or ignoring them, could be fatal.

A BHF survey revealed that nine in ten Londoners would not recognise heart attack symptoms, including chest pain, aches, jaw, back and arm pain, breathlessness and sweating.

BHF medical director Peter Weissberg said: "Central chest pain is the most common warning sign of a heart attack, but most Londoners don't know that it does not have to be excruciating to be serious.

"Not everyone has the classic 'Hollywood heart attack'. Every minute counts if you are having a heart attack, so if you are experiencing central chest pain, call 999 immediately."

BHF says that somebody suffers a heart attack every two minutes in the UK. One in three dies before reaching hospital, but many deaths could have been avoided if the symptoms were reported sooner.

NHS health improvement director Shahed Ahmad said: "Too many Londoners miss milder heart attack symptoms or are worried about calling for help.

"We want people to call 999 immediately when they experience central chest pain - our paramedics would rather attend a false alarm than arrive too late.

Waltham Forest was chosen as one of the boroughs in which to launch the campaign because of its high rates of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust's (PCT) annual public health report revealed that there were 101.3 deaths per 100,000 from CHD in 2006, higher than the London average of 82.61 and dwarfing the England and Wales average of 79.58.

The figure for men dying from CHD in the borough is higher still, at 152.74.

The new campaign features images of a man with a belt around his chest, which will be displayed on billboards and buses.

For more information visit bhf.org.uk/doubtkills