Cardiac Conditions

Hint

The heart is a muscle; a small organ roughly the size of a clenched fist that lies directly behind the sternum. It works continuously propelling blood around the body and maintaining blood pressure. All cardiovascular function ultimately depends on the heart. This muscular organ beats approximately 100,000 times each day, pumping roughly 8000 litres of blood. To function the heart’s cardiac muscle cells require reliable supplies of oxygen and nutrients. The coronary circulation supplies blood to the muscles of the heart, if this supply is interrupted or slowed the heart can no longer function to its full capacity resulting in a loss of consciousness.

Hint

Angina is a condition in which exertion or stress produces temporary chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The chest pain of angina is typically severe and crushing. There is a feeling just behind the sternum of pressure and suffocation, squeezing in the centre of the chest and pain in the neck, shoulder, jaw, upper arm or upper back.
When rest alone does not bring rapid or effective relief then the use of nitroglycerine tablets or spray is often needed. The pain or discomfort is usually relieved within a couple of minutes, however, if the signs and symptoms last more than 10 minutes, an ambulance should be called immediately, and the casualty managed for heart attack.

Hint

Research by the National Institute of Health (NIH) U.S.A. indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks.
These symptoms may be in addition to signs and symptoms listed under angina and heart attack above.

Hint

 Call 000 for an ambulance immediately.

 Encourage the casualty to immediately rest in a position of comfort, usually in an upright seated position.

 Assist the casualty to take their medication if they have it with them.

 Monitor airway, breathing and circulation.

 Be prepared to commence CPR.