The Hollywood heart attack myth: Misleading scenes put lives at risk

Watching a heart attack at the movies could put your own life at risk, claim experts.

Four out of ten people in the UK are putting their lives on the line by taking advice on heart attacks from TV and movies, according to a British Heart Foundation survey.

They are misled by images of the 'Hollywood' heart attack, which feature dramatic scenes of actors collapsing and clutching their chest in extreme pain.

In reality, symptoms can be more subtle and easier to ignore.

But the stereotype persists in films ranging from Ocean's 13, where a double-crossed Elliott Gould was shown falling over and clutching his chest, to Jack Nicholson's character in Something's Gotta Give, who was rescued from his attack by the Diane
Keaton heroine.

Among characters who have suffered a heart attack on the small screen are Jerry Morton, Mike Baldwin and Derek Wilton on Coronation Street, Arthur Fowler on EastEnders, Jim Robinson and Karl Kennedy from Neighbours, as well as the cartoon character Homer Simpson.

The YouGov poll of 2,000 people questioned online shows one in five did not know what the symptoms of a heart attack are.

Of most concern is that 38 per cent believe the signs of a heart attack will always be crippling chest pains based on the Hollywood myth, says the heart charity.

Not only are the symptoms of a heart attack often less dramatic than full-blown chest pain, they may be differently experienced by men and women.

Men more often suffer a 'tight band of pain in the chest' while women are more likely to develop breathlessness and an 'indigestion-type' pain.

A short film, 'Watch Your Own Heart Attack', made by the British Heart Foundation will be screened on ITV1 on August 10 at 9.17pm in an effort to set the record straight.

Betty McBride of the BHF said: 'We need to get the message out there that heart attacks on the silver screen and TV aren't what people usually experience.

'People need to know the true story, which is why everyone should tune in to ITV1 on August 10. It could be the most important two minutes of television you ever see.' David Cameron, Chris Tarrant, Angela Rippon and Ainsley Harriot are amongst celebrities who will be appearing in short TV teaser trailers this week declaring: 'I'll be watching.'

Every year almost a quarter of a million people suffer heart attacks, a third of whom die before reaching hospital, often because they do not seek help in time.

Marian Sherry, 61, survived a heart attack ten years ago.

She had no warning, just some tightness around her chest and a pain in her arm which she did not at first think was serious.

Mrs Sherry, from Reading, said: 'I was really surprised to find out I'd had a heart attack because they always show people on TV keeling over, but my experience wasn't anything like that.'