Duration of Heart Attack Pain

More than a million people in the United States experience the pain of a heart attack each year, and nearly half of them die. Understanding the facts concerning how long a heart attack lasts could be life-saving information.

Misconceptions

• The perception that pain from a heart attack is sudden and clear is not always the case. A myocardial infarction (heart attack) may begin slowly with only minimal pain or discomfort. This often confuses individuals who wait too long to receive treatment.

Identification

• A sense of pressure or tightness in the chest is usually the first sign. “Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back,” according to The American Heart Association.

Symptoms

• Additional symptoms include sensations of indigestion, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or pain in the legs, arms, back, neck, shoulders or stomach.

Time Frame

• The duration of heart attack pain and symptoms depend on the individual. The time frame may last anywhere from a few minutes to hours, perhaps ceasing and returning intermittently.

Warning

• Prompt diagnosis and treatment by a physician is crucial. “Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital,” says The U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.