London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 01, 2025

10 things about heart attacks that could mean difference between life and death

Greater awareness of world’s biggest killer can help chances of survival, says Dr Henry Fok, cardiologist at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road. Private hospital in Happy Valley has created Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic, open 24 hours a day, which can treat patients within 10 minutes of arrival

Every second counts in a heart-related emergency. A delay of even a couple of minutes could be the difference between life and death in the case of cardiac arrest or other complications affecting this vital blood-pumping organ.

Coronary heart disease led to the deaths of an average of 10.6 people in Hong Kong each day in 2017, according to statistics from the Department of Health

Between 2008 and 2017, more than 30,000 Hong Kong patients have died because of the problem – with sudden deaths often occurring after people have shown few symptoms.

Those at higher risk of suffering heart attacks include people aged between 40 and 60, smokers, those with high blood pressure, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol or little physical activity.

Check out 10 key facts and figures to remember when dealing with cardiac emergencies which could help to increase awareness about – and the chances of surviving – an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the medical name for a heart attack.


1. World’s Number 1 killer ...

Cardiovascular disease – which refers to a range of conditions, including narrowed or blocked blood vessels, which can lead to a heart attack – remains the leading cause of death worldwide.

In 2018, the World Health Organisation listed strokes and ischemic heart disease (a blockage of the arteries) as the world’s biggest killers – accounting for a combined 15.2 million deaths.


2. ... and Hong Kong’s Number 3 killer

In Hong Kong, heart attacks and coronary diseases come third in the list of causes of fatalities, after cancer and pneumonia, according to a 2018 survey by the government’s Department of Health.

Widely-known risk factors include a bad diet, lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle – traits not uncommon among many in Hong Kong.


3. Early diagnosis is crucial

Dr Henry Kok, a specialist in cardiology at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road, in Happy Valley, who has worked in emergency wards at Hong Kong public hospitals, says the goal is always to attend to patients suffering chest pains and provide an electrocardiogram (ECG) within 15 minutes of their arrival.

“It is important to diagnose heart attacks early,” Kok says.


4. Longer waiting times in public hospitals

However, in reality, the waiting time for patients to receive an ECG in a public hospital is closer to 30 minutes, he says.
“Because of the sheer number of cases that public hospitals handle, it can be difficult [to meet the goal].”


5. Benefits of more rapid treatment

Kok is part of Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road’s newly created Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic team, where members attend to – and test – patients with chest pains, tightness or discomfort within 10 minutes of their arrival – in accordance with the guidelines set by European and American medical organisations.

Many international medical studies have proved that the shorter a patient’s diagnosis time, the more positive the outcome of the treatment will be and the lower the death rate.

“If we can treat an AMI or myocardial heart attack early, we have a better chance of saving the patient, preventing future complications and heart failure,” Kok says.

The private hospital's Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic does not provide accident and emergency services in the same way as public hospitals. Patients can gain a clear understanding of the different prices – and range of services they will given – prior to their treatments.


6. Imminent heart attack symptoms

Most heart and medical organisations, including the Mayo Clinic in the United States and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, highlight six imminent heart attack symptoms:

Chest discomfort (pressure, tightness, a squeezing or aching sensation, burning and heaviness) that may spread to the neck, shoulder and back
Cold sweat
Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Lightheadedness or dizziness

You should consult a doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.


7. Attacks can occur any time

Heart attacks can occur at any time.

This is why Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road’s Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic operates 24 hours, seven days a week, all-year round.

“If the patient is experiencing chest pains, discomfort or sweating, we refer them to our chest pain clinic,” Kok says.

“It’s not a physical clinic but a protocol. An ECG, conducted by our emergency specialist doctor who is on call from 9am to 9pm, will be arranged within 10 minutes.”

Outside those hours, the Clinic is manned by other experienced general practitioners, who are able to diagnose an acute heart attack.


8. Take all chest pains seriously

Not all chest pains indicate a cardiac problem. Some scares may be as innocuous as heartburn.

However, all chest pains and related discomfort should be taken seriously: arrhythmia (an irregular heart beat) can result in symptoms similar to those of a heart attack.

A heart that beats too slowly can lead to fainting or even sudden death.

Women, in particular, are encouraged to take cardiac symptoms seriously. The American Heart Association reports that, 64 per cent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart diseases showed no previous symptoms.

Some women have also suffered heart attacks without chest pain or pressure.

Women have also been historically misdiagnosed or have had their symptoms been dismissed when the tests are inconclusive.


9. Avoiding heart muscle damage

Kok says when symptoms of a heart attack are dealt with within two hours, permanent cardiac muscle damage can be avoided.
In once case, Kok referred a patient to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road’s Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic while he was away on a speaking engagement in Macau.

“Our doctors gave him an ECG within five minutes of his arrival,” he says.


10. Unblocking of blood vessels

Fortunately, the patient did not suffer a severe heart attack.

Doctors put the patient the hospital’s special care unit, while Kok flew back as soon as possible to conduct an emergency angiogram – a diagnostic test that uses X-rays to take pictures of a person’s blood vessels.

“A vessel was blocked so I opened it straightaway, unblocking it in 20 minutes,” Kok says.

“I also fixed the other severely blocked vessels with stenting [metal or plastic tubes inserted inside the lining of a vessel to keep the passageway open] at the same time. I implanted six stents in total [in] three major vessels.”

“Most importantly, the patient was OK and we were able to discharge him after two days.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Launches “TrumpRx” Plan to Enable Direct Drug Sales at Deep Discounts
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
Nvidia Pledges Up to $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI to Power Massive AI Data Center Build-Out
U.S. Signals ‘Large and Forceful’ Support for Argentina Amid Market Turmoil
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
Vietnam Faces Up to $25 Billion Export Loss as U.S. Tariffs Bite
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Indonesia Court Upholds Military Law Amid Concerns Over Expanded Civilian Role
Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch Join Trump-Backed Bid to Take Over TikTok
Trump and Musk Reunite Publicly for First Time Since Fallout at Kirk Memorial
Vietnam Closes 86 Million Untouched Bank Accounts Over Biometric ID Rules
×