PATIENT INFORMATION

Chest Pain
Chest pain should never be ignored. Some chest pain can be serious and requires urgent attention. Chest pain maybe due to angina or a heart attack.

Angina may be a dull ache or a tight, heavy sensation usually in the centre of the chest. It may radiate either to arm, neck, jaw or back. Often it can be mistaken for indigestion.

Heart attack pain is similar to angina but likely to be more severe and prolonged. You may also experience shortness of breath, clamminess or sickness. If the pain lasts longer than fifteen minutes, urgent medical help should be sought.

If you have previously had angina or a heart attack and have a GTN Spray it is recommended: -

• Take two puffs of your GTN Spray under your tongue every 5 minutes up to 15 minutes.

• Ensure you leave 5 minutes between each two puffs.

• If you become lightheaded and dizzy at any stage do not take any further spray.

• If the pain does not improve after 15 minutes you need to seek medical help. If the pain is increasing in severity or the pain is associated with nausea/vomiting or cold clammy skin then call 999 and ask for an ambulance as it maybe either a myocardial infarction [heart attack] or unstable angina.



SMOKING CESSATION SPECIALIST SERVICE
Cigarette use is directly related to Coronary Heart Disease risk. If you have heart disease or have had a heart attack, you probably already know that smoking is bad for your heart, as well as for your lungs but did you know that smoking doubles your risk of having a heart attack. People who continue to smoke have more angina and may be admitted to hospital more often.

Stopping smoking is something positive you can do to improve your health and your quality of your life. If your are waiting to have coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery, your recovery will be quicker and less painful, if you quit smoking as soon as possible before your operation.