NHS launches lifesaving campaign to tackle heart attack myths

The NHS has launched a new lifesaving campaign to encourage people to dial 999 when they are having early signs of a heart attack.

Backed by celebrities including One Foot in the Grave actor Richard Wilson and Sky Sports presenter ‘Tubes’ – the campaign tackles a number of common heart attack myths, after research identified that three in four people thought a heart attack was the same as a cardiac arrest.

The new polling also showed that fewer than half of people said they would dial 999 if they or a loved one experienced lesser known symptoms of heart attacks.

A new NHS advert shows a person experiencing some of the common early symptoms of a heart attack – sweating, uneasiness and chest tightness – and reminds viewers to dial 999 if they experience the symptoms of a heart attack.

The campaign, which run from 14 February to 31 March 2022, is the first of the NHS ‘Help Us Help You’ campaigns specific to heart attacks.

If you are suffering from severe chest pain or symptoms please dial 999 immediately. KIMS Hospital and Sevenoaks Medical Centre do not provide emergency services for cardiac cases. We offer elective cardiology services, from diagnosis to recovery, working with consultants who in turn work with our dedicated cardiac Physiologists and nurses to provide a complete service to diagnose and treat heart-related conditions. Click here to find out more about Cardiology.