When the Blood Supply to the Heart Muscle Stops, the Heart Begins to Be Damaged After a Few Minutes in Norway

Peter Christian Frølich, a prominent Conservative Party politician and leader of the Norwegian parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee, has been hospitalized after suffering a serious heart attack. The 38-year-old experienced severe chest pain while training on Saturday and was quickly treated at Haukeland University Hospital, where doctors believe his heart will recover, according to a statement from his party to the Norwegian news agency NTB. "The health personnel I have met over the past day have been absolutely outstanding.

I want to extend a big thank you to the ambulance team, and not least to the doctors and nurses at Haukeland, Frølich said in the statement. "I have learned how crucial it is to call 113 quickly when you feel severe chest pain. You must not hesitate and think it will pass.

It applies regardless of age, also for relatively young people. It can be a matter of life and death. As a result of the heart attack, Frølich will have to cancel much of his planned activity in the coming period.

"I will be away from parliament for four to six weeks, and unfortunately have to cancel meetings, lectures, debates and trips I had been looking forward. I am sorry about this, but promise to come back strong later this autumn," he said. The party says Frølich will be largely unavailable in the time ahead and refers questions to the party's press chief, Jacob Mæhle.

Former Prime Minister Erna Solberg (Conservative Party) said the news was frightening but expressed relief that he is being well cared for. Conservative Party leader Ine Eriksen Søreide wished Frølich a speedy recovery, saying the news came as a shock since they are close colleagues. Mona Seljevoll Tjordal, a cardiology nurse and heart health adviser at LHL, said the incident is a reminder that heart attacks can also strike younger people.

"When a 38-year-old is affected, it is a reminder that heart attacks can also hit younger people, even though the risk increases with age. You should not dismiss symptoms because you think you are too young to have a heart attack," she said. "In a heart attack, minutes count.

When the blood supply to the heart muscle stops, the heart begins to be damaged after a few minutes. The faster you call 113 and get treatment, the greater the chance of limiting the damage to the heart. The most common symptom is pain, pressure or tightness in the chest, but not everyone gets the classic symptoms.

Shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat or pain radiating to the arm, jaw, back or upper abdomen can also be signs. "If you are in doubt whether it could be a heart attack, you should call 113. Better once too many than once too few, Tjordal said.