A recent study by Manulife Singapore has revealed that the majority of Singaporeans are unaware of the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
According to the Manulife Heart Health Survey, only 30% of the study’s 500 respondents were able to identify all the major signs and symptoms of heart disease. This meant than seven out of 10 were unaware of the signs, and may be less likely to seek help if they or someone they were with began experiencing them.
This is despite an average of 17 people in Singapore succumbing to cardiovascular diseases daily.
While 80% of respondents indicated chest pain as a key symptom of a heart attack, only a minority were able to identify the other early signs – stomach discomfort (11%), fatigue (25%), jaw pain (26%), and nausea (28%).
Furthermore, 80% of respondents are not aware that women and men may experience different heart attack warning signs.
To inform the public that signs of a heart attack are more than just the chest pain usually seen in the movies, Manulife Singapore released a short film titled ‘Stop the Drama’, featuring veteran actor Lim Kay Tong, who points out the difference between the dramatic ‘movie’ heart attacks versus the real-life signs identified by medical professionals.
“We’ve all seen scenes of the heart attacks on TV and in movies, depicting an actor clutching his chest before kneeling over,” said Kwek-Perroy Li Choo, chief customer officer of Manulife Singapore. “Everyone thinks that’s what a heart attack looks like – but they’re not always dramatic chest crushing pain like what we see in movies. Through our partnership with the Singapore Heart Foundation, we’re hoping to raise awareness around the fact that a real heart attack might be really subtle, with symptoms differing between men and women.”
