Difference between a heart attack and an angina, and what to do as basic first aid :
| ANGINA |
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… is a pain coming from the heart due to lock of blood supply. This usually occurs during a gradual blockage of the coronary arteries. It subsides by talking sorbitrates or taking rest and does not leave any damage to the heart. Angina is natures way of ensuring the hearts safety by sending warning signals about its distress, caused by cholesterol blocked arteries. |
| HEART ATTACK |
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… is an extreme form of angina that leaves severe permanent damage to the heart muscles, if not death. It occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the heart, causing severe pain. Any seeming attack of angina and chest discomfort which prolongs beyond 20 minutes is a heart attack and demands immediate management. |
What to do in case of a heart attack:
| Before rushing the patient to the doctor/hospital give the patient a tablet of Disprin with a sip of water. No tea, no food. Disprin, says Doctor, makes the blood thin and helps facilitate its passage to the heart. A tablet of Sorbitrate (5 mg) under the tongue is also effective. Do not crowd around the patient, let fresh air come in. |
