Most people imagine a heart attack as a dramatic chest tight collapse. A new study shows that the common image of the symptoms of a heart attack rarely reflects reality and worse: this misunderstanding can even cost us life.
Called “Hollywood heart attack” – We sometimes see in the large and small screen characters to feel sudden and intense pain, firmly grasping the left chest and finally fainting.
However, the “Hollywood heart attack” is that rarely reflects reality.
The problem is that many people think, however, that reflects and, when it touches us, this misunderstanding may be Cost us life.
This is what a study recently demonstrated in Heart & Lungby investigators the State University of Illinois (ISU) and the University of Texas in Arlington (UTA).
“We have made a bad service to ourselves, with what is known as ‘the Hollywood heart attack,'” he told, to, Ann Eckhardtnursing teacher and researcher at UTA and corresponding author of the study.
“Unfortunately, This is not real life. It is not always intense. Sometimes it’s just a discomfort that doesn’t seem to be well, so people tend to wait to consult a doctor. The more it is expected, the more likely it is to have negative consequences after the heart attack, ”he warns.
Perceptions are incomplete
The study highlights that there is a disadvantage between the expected symptoms of a heart attack and realitywhich can lead to delays in seeking care, especially if symptoms do not meet expectations.
I.e, Many people do not have a complete perception What it is to have a heart attack, in reality.
“We often tell people that chest pain is a symptom of heart attack, but what We don’t tell them is what they can really feel“Eckhardt said.“For many people, this is not a pain in the traditional sense. It’s more discomfort, pressure, tightness. They don’t feel well, but they can’t identify what it is, ”he added.
The expert also points out that the longer it takes time to detect symptoms, the more likely it is to record irreversible heart damage.
“So if we can determine how people think it will be a heart attack, we may help the medical community make a better screening and ask questions. Isn’t it just “having chest pain?”; It is also about “there is some discomfort, pressure, discomfort, tightening?”“.
