Heart Attack Pain: Duration, Symptoms & What to Expect

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. ̶0;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,̶1; 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. ̶0;Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital,̶1; says The U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.