Ras Al Khaimah: A month-long campaign organised by RAK Hospital is urging people to learn about heart attack symptoms, as heart disease remains the number one killer among UAE residents.

Starting on Tuesday, the campaign aims to educate people about heart attack symptoms in order to avoid mistaking signs that could lead to intense cardiac damage and, in some cases, death.

Doctors at the hospital have also warned that besides common signs of cardiac-related diseases, it is the unrelated indications that people should watch for. These include neck, jaw and back pain that could signal a heart problem.

The campaign will also address the alarming increase in cardiac-related diseases in the UAE, which are responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths in the country. It will also highlight the importance of the ‘Golden Hour Period’, as reaching the hospital within an hour of the attack can often make all the difference.

“Contrary to general perception, a heart attack does not always manifest itself through chest and arm pain,” stressed Dr Raza Seddiqi, CEO Arabian Healthcare Group and executive director of RAK Hospital.

He explained that even an odd back pain or dizziness could be a sign of a heart problem, even though people tend to ignore such minor symptoms. “With this campaign we want to draw the public’s attention to the important fact that any abnormal behaviour of your body needs attention, and one should consult a doctor immediately. Just this small precautionary measure can go a long way in limiting damage to your heart,” said Dr Seddiqi.

While heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, the more common ones include pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in the chest, arm, back, jaw, neck or shoulders, feeling sick or dizzy, breaking into a cold sweat, shortness of breath and feeling lightheaded and fatigued. The warning signs can also differ for men and women. Women may feel nauseous, vomit or suffer from jaw or back pain, while men could experience shortness of breath, chest discomfort and arm pain. The pain often lasts for a few minutes and can worsen with any physical activity. According to doctors, patients who make it to the emergency room in time can have up to 90 per cent survival chances.

Dr Ajay Kanojia, senior specialist Cardiology at RAK Hospital, added: “Often people shrug off the discomfort thinking they are not the right fit for a heart attack patient. But the sad fact is the disease can also occur in people who are seemingly fit, young, non-smokers and have no family history of cardiac-related diseases. It is always a good idea to get yourself evaluated; it is better to be safe than sorry”.

A recent survey by the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Statistics Centre confirmed that heart disease remains the number one killer among UAE residents resulting in 30 per cent of deaths. The survey that was conducted on 3,298 Emirati and expatriate families further found that around 32 per cent of the participants were borderline obese, while 12 per cent were obese. Around 22 per cent were non-smokers. Another report claimed that an increasing number of young people in the UAE suffer from heart diseases, with a rise in heart conditions in patients under the age of 40.