Heart attack symptoms can vary in their onset, intensity and duration. Some may appear suddenly, while others may start slowly. They can 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 as soon as the symptoms start.
This article will discuss 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.
Heart attack symptoms usually persist for more than a few minutes. They can go away and come back again, or they can occur intermittently for several hours.
In most cases, symptoms start slowly and cause mild pain or discomfort. Sometimes, however, the symptoms can be sudden and severe.
Chest pain lasting 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 can even be fatal.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with 85% of those deaths occurring due to heart attack or stroke in 2016.
According to the Society for Angiography and Cardiovascular Interventions, people have approximately 90 minutes between the onset of the heart attack and medical treatment to prevent damage to critical cardiac tissue.
Complications
During a heart attack, blood flow to the heart stops due to a blockage in the 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 resulting from this situation include:
- Arrhythmias: These are abnormal heartbeats.
- Cardiogenic shock: This refers to serious damage to the heart muscle.
- Cardiac insufficiency: This occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently through the body.
According to the National Health Service (NHS), many people die suddenly from such complications – some before they reach the hospital and others in the first month after having a heart attack.
The longer a heart attack goes untreated, the more damage occurs and the worse the result becomes.
Someone should call 911 immediately if he or someone else is showing symptoms of a heart attack. Even if the 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 earlier than if people went to the hospital by car. Those arriving by ambulance can also receive treatment faster at the hospital.
Waiting for an ambulance
It may be useful to take an aspirin tablet, ideally 300 milligrams, while waiting for an ambulance. A person can take an aspirin tablet if they are not allergic to it and if a doctor or member of the emergency services team has recommended it.
Aspirin is a blood thinning medication that can help restore blood flow to the heart.
The person must make sure that they have taken any prescribed heart medication as instructed while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. These medications may include nitroglycerin or beta-blockers.
Treatment varies depending on the type of heart attack the person is having.
Learn more about the different types of heart attack here.
In most cases, the doctor treats heart attacks using catheterization and stent placement. Catheterization involves introducing a tube into the heart through a small cut in the groin or arm. A stent will keep the artery open.
Immediate treatment
Forms of immediate treatment at the hospital may include:
- Aspirin: This prevents further blood clotting.
- Nitroglycerin: This helps to improve blood flow.
- Oxygen therapy: This helps to increase oxygen levels.
- Treatment for chest pain: This can reduce pain or discomfort.
Surgery
Surgery can help restore blood flow to the heart. Surgical procedures for heart attack patients include bypass surgery. Bypass surgery involves redirecting blood flow around the block.
Learn more about bypass surgery here.
Some people also consider catheterization and stenting to be a form of surgery.
Learn more about stent placement here.
Medicines
The doctor can give the person medications to dissolve a blood clot. Medicines that dissolve blood clots are called thrombolytics.
The doctor may later prescribe other medications to reduce the risk of future heart attacks, including:
Learn more about treating a heart attack here.
The time it takes to recover from a heart attack varies. It depends on several factors, including the person’s general health and the amount of damage that the heart attack caused to the heart muscle.
Most people need to stay in the hospital for at least a few days after a heart attack. Those who have had bypass surgery will need to stay longer – sometimes a week or more.
Some people may return to work and other activities after 2 weeks, while others will need several months of recovery.
Most people 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 better able to diagnose and treat heart attacks. Therefore, receiving immediate medical treatment is crucial.
The adoption of preventive methods is also extremely important. This can help to reduce the risk of future heart attacks.
The symptoms of a heart attack can start immediately and last for several hours.
However, symptoms can vary widely in presentation, onset and duration. Some people may notice that the symptoms appear suddenly, while others experience a gradual onset.
As soon as a person notices the symptoms, someone should call 911 and the person should take an aspirin tablet (if they are not allergic to aspirin and if a medical professional has instructed them to do so). Getting immediate medical attention is the best way to improve a person’s outlook.
With urgent treatment, most people recover from a heart attack and can live a full life. Making healthy lifestyle choices and following the recommended treatment plan can reduce your risk of future heart attacks.