Heart attack symptoms can vary in their onset, intensity, and duration. Some may come on suddenly, while others may begin slowly. They may last for a few minutes or several hours.
Untreated heart attack symptoms can lead to serious complications or even death. Therefore, it is important that people receive urgent treatment once symptoms begin.
This article will address how long a heart attack can last. It will also list the symptoms of a heart attack and discuss how and when to seek treatment.
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Heart attack symptoms typically persist for longer than a few minutes. They may go away and come back again, or they may occur intermittently over several hours.
In most cases, the symptoms will begin slowly and cause mild pain or discomfort. Sometimes, however, the symptoms can be sudden and intense.
Chest pain that lasts for several weeks or months is unlikely to be a heart attack or other life threatening emergency.
However, it is vital that people do not wait to see how long the pain lasts. They will need emergency treatment for the symptoms of a heart attack.
If a person does not receive treatment for a heart attack, it can lead to serious complications. It may even be fatal.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, with 85% of these deaths occurring due to heart attack or stroke in 2016.
According to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, people have approximately 90 minutes between heart attack onset and getting medical treatment to prevent damage to critical heart tissue.
Complications
During a heart attack, blood flow to the heart stops due to a blockage in a coronary artery. These are the arteries that carry blood to the heart. If a person does not receive immediate treatment, this lack of blood flow can cause damage to the heart.
Complications arising from this situation include:
- Arrhythmias: These are abnormal heartbeats.
- Cardiogenic shock: This refers to severe damage to the heart muscle.
- Heart failure: This occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood around the body efficiently.
According to the National Health Service (NHS), many people die suddenly from such complications — some before they reach hospital and others within the first month of having a heart attack.
The longer a heart attack is left untreated, the more damage that occurs and the worse the outcome becomes.
Someone should call 911 immediately if they or someone else is experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack. Even if a person is unsure, they should still seek emergency treatment.
By calling 911, treatment can begin as soon as the emergency services team arrives.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), calling an ambulance allows treatment to begin up to an hour sooner than if people travel to the hospital by car. Those arriving by ambulance may also receive faster treatment at the hospital.
Waiting for an ambulance
It may be helpful to take an aspirin tablet, ideally 300 milligrams, while waiting for an ambulance. A person can take an aspirin tablet if they do not have an allergy to it and if a doctor or member of the emergency services team has recommended it.
Aspirin is a blood-thinning medication that may help restore some blood flow to the heart.
A person should make sure that they have taken any prescribed heart medication as instructed while they are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. These medications may include nitroglycerin or beta-blockers.
The time it takes to recover from a heart attack varies. It depends on several factors, including the person’s overall health and the amount of damage the heart attack has done to their heart muscle.
Most people have to stay in the hospital for at least a few days after a heart attack. Those who have undergone bypass surgery will need to stay longer — sometimes a week or more.
Some people may be able to return to work and other activities after 2 weeks, while others will require several months of recovery time.
Most people will recover from a heart attack, especially if they receive emergency medical treatment.
The survival rate for heart attacks is now 90%. This is because doctors are now much more able to diagnose and treat heart attacks. Therefore, receiving immediate medical treatment is crucial.
Adopting preventive methods is also extremely important. This can help reduce the risk of experiencing future heart attacks.
The symptoms of a heart attack can start immediately and last for several hours.
However, the symptoms can vary greatly in their presentation, onset, and duration. Some people may notice that the symptoms appear suddenly, while others experience a gradual onset.
Once a person notices symptoms, someone should call 911, and the person should take an aspirin tablet (if they do not have an aspirin allergy and if a medical professional has instructed them to do so). Receiving immediate medical attention is the best way to improve a person’s outlook.
With urgent treatment, most people will recover from a heart attack and can live fulfilling lives. Making healthful lifestyle choices and following the recommended treatment plan can reduce the risk of experiencing future heart attacks.
By: Woman's Day Staff | Woman's Day
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in both men and women worldwide. Contrast to what you may see in a movie, the signs of a heart attack can be hard to miss. "Two-thirds of women will have less-typical, non-Hollywood heart attack symptoms," says C. Noel Bairey Merz, M.D., director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles.
Though symptoms like chest tightness and upper body pain are more obvious, heart attacks present a host of symptoms that can be easily mistaken for another ailment (think nausea, heartburn, and fatigue). Identifying the signs of a heart attack and seeking early intervention can be the difference between life or death. Here are the most common symptoms to look out for.
The very first symptom of a heart attack listed by the American Heart Association is "uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest." This discomfort may come in waves lasting more than a few minutes at a time.
Heart attack pain can occur in places other than the chest, like the back, shoulders, arms, neck or jaw. According to Cleveland Clinic, when there's a problem in the heart, such as a blocked artery, it can trigger the nerves in your heart to give a signal that something is wrong, and you'll feel pain. Considering the vagus nerve is connected to not only the heart, but also the brain, chest, abdomen, and neck, you may feel those pain signals in other areas of the body aside from the heart region.
Many things can make you dizzy: not drinking enough water, skipping lunch, or standing up too fast. But dizziness or lightheadedness coupled with chest pain and shortness of breath may signify a decrease in blood volume and a drop in blood pressure, which means a heart attack could be on it's way.
Feeling worn out after a sleepless night or a stressful day is normal. But women can feel fatigued a month out before having a heart attack, Harvard Health Publishing reports. According to the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, this sign is especially prominent in women.
According to Stoney Brook Medicine, gastric symptoms like a queasy stomach, vomiting, or belching develop when the heart and other areas of the body aren't receiving enough blood supply. It can be misjudged as acid reflux or heartburn, so it's important to reach out to your doctor, especially if you're having other heart attack symptoms.
Unless you're going through menopause or have just exercised, breaking out into a cold sweat or perspiring excessively could signal a heart attack. During a heart attack, your nervous system activates a "fight or flight" response that puts you in survival mode and could lead to sweating.
When the heart is lacking adequate blood supply, all sorts of things can happen in the body. According to Stoney Brook Medicine, the heart can begin to get irritable when it lacks nutrient-filled blood, which leads to the sensation of heart palpitations. If you feel like you're having heart palpitations, make sure you contact your doctor right away.
Walking up the stairs used to be a breeze, but if you recently have been finding it harder and harder to make the climb, seek medical attention immediately. Even though this doesn't necessarily mean you're about to have a heart attack at this moment, it could be a sign that your heart is in danger. According to the AHA, shortness of breath could come with or without any chest pain.
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