Cardiac emergencies in Oujda: what to do
recognise the signs, act in 10 minutes.

A heart attack typically presents as:

• oppressive chest pain, bar-like, often in the centre of the chest;
• possible radiation to the left arm, jaw, back;
• duration > 20 minutes, not relieved by rest or trinitrin;
• sometimes sweating, faintness, nausea, sense of impending doom.

In women and elderly diabetic patients, the presentation may be atypical: isolated shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, epigastric pain. At the slightest doubt, call.

The FAST acronym:

• F (Face) — mouth drooping on one side.
• A (Arm) — arm drops when asked to lift it.
• S (Speech) — speech difficult to understand.
• T (Time) — every minute counts. Call immediately.

• SAMU: 141 (free from any phone in Morocco).
• Police: 19.
• Clinique Achark — 24/7 ER: ⁦+212 536-697777⁩.
• Fire brigade: 15.

• Do not drive yourself to hospital — risk of fainting at the wheel.
• Do not eat or drink.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not wait for it to pass — every minute costs irreplaceable cardiac or brain cells.
• Do not go to a pharmacy — call SAMU or the clinic directly.

The Clinique Achark ER in Oujda is open 24/7. Target triage time: less than 10 minutes after your arrival. Active platform:

• on-call interventional cardiologist;
• catheterisation lab for emergency coronary angioplasty;
• immediate brain CT for suspected stroke;
• on-site cardiac ICU.

• Uncontrolled hypertension.
• Diabetes, especially poorly controlled.
• Elevated LDL cholesterol.
• Active or passive smoking.
• Overweight, sedentary lifestyle.
• Family history of heart attack before age 55.