How long do heart attacks last?

Heart attack symptoms can persist for hours or even days due to the gradual development of blockages in coronary arteries. This can lead to a reduced or complete lack of blood flow to the heart. When the heart is not getting adequate blood or oxygen flow, it causes a heart attack.

If your symptoms suddenly intensify, you should seek medical support immediately by calling 911.

How long do heart attacks last? 

The duration of a heart attack can vary significantly for different people. Sometimes, a heart attack can be sudden and intense, lasting only a few minutes. However, for others, it might persist for hours or even days. 

This variation can often be due to factors such as:

• the type of heart attack you’re experiencing
• the extent of blockage in your arteries
• the amount of blood supply to your heart
• how quickly you receive medical treatment

Some heart attacks, such as silent heart attacks, may not produce noticeable symptoms or cause mild discomfort that could be mistaken for indigestion. These symptoms can last for hours or even days, leading to delayed medical intervention if not recognized early.

Symptoms

During a heart attack, you might experience various symptoms. The most common can often be discomfort or pressure in your chest. It might not always be a sharp pain — it could feel like a sensation of squeezing, fullness, or heaviness.

This discomfort could last for several minutes or sometimes even longer, and you may also experience nausea and vomiting.

Other accompanying symptoms may include:

• Radiating pain: The pain or discomfort might not remain confined to your chest. It can spread to your arms, neck, jaw, shoulders, or back. This radiating pain often indicates that your heart might be struggling and needs immediate attention.
• Shortness of breath: As your heart is under stress, you might find it difficult to catch your breath. You may experience sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, which could feel like you can’t get enough air, even if you’re not exerting yourself.
• Sweating: You may experience profuse sweating and feel cold and clammy, even in cold weather.
• Dizziness: A heart attack can affect blood circulation, which might lead to feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
• Overwhelming fatigue: You might experience extreme fatigue or an unexplainable feeling of exhaustion.
• Heartburn-like symptoms: A heart attack can sometimes be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. It could indicate a heart attack if you feel an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest, especially alongside other symptoms.

Remember, these symptoms can be mild or severe and may not all appear simultaneously. Some people might even have a “silent” heart attack, where they experience few or no noticeable symptoms. 

Emergency medical support

Seek medical support if you experience any of the following symptoms, especially if they occur suddenly or intensify rapidly.

• persistent chest pain or discomfort that may radiate to other body parts
• sudden difficulty breathing, even without physical exertion
• unexplained nausea, vomiting, or a sensation of indigestion
• profuse, unexplained sweating, along with a cold and clammy feeling
• feeling dizzy or on the verge of fainting
• sudden and overwhelming fatigue that is out of the ordinary
• a sense of fear or impending doom that is difficult to explain

Treatment

Treatment options for a heart attack may include:

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

This is the emergency treatment of a heart attack, and it involves rapidly opening the blocked artery using a catheter with a balloon and stent to restore blood flow and minimize heart muscle damage. 

Medication

Common medications used in treating heart attacks may include:

• Antiplatelet medication such as (Aspirin) to prevent blood clotting. If you also receive a stent via catheter to keep the blood vessels open, you will also receive another antiplatelet medication. This is called dual antiplatelet therapy, and doctors will prescribe another drug such as clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta), or prasugrel (Effient).
• Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) to improve blood flow and relieve chest pain.
• Beta-blockers such as metoprolol (Lopressor) slow the heart rate to improve blood flow through the coronary arteries.
• Pain relievers such as morphine (MS Contin) to manage severe pain and anxiety during a heart attack.

If you have a heart attack, doctors will also prescribe cholesterol medications, like statins, as these can help reduce any added burden on the heart that high cholesterol may cause.

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Coronary artery bypass surgery

A doctor may recommend bypass surgery for severe cases. This involves creating alternative routes for blood to flow around blocked or narrowed arteries.

Cardiac rehabilitation

After treatment, a doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation programs to help you:

• make a good recovery
• improve your heart health
• reduce the risk of future heart issues

Risk factors

Leaving a heart attack untreated can lead to serious complications, including:

• an increased risk of extensive heart damage
• heart failure
• life threatening arrhythmias
• sudden cardiac arrest

Seeking immediate medical help is crucial to prevent these severe outcomes and ensure your best chance at recovery.

Summary

The duration of a heart attack can vary widely, ranging from minutes to hours, depending on several factors, like the type of attack. 

Early recognition of symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention is crucial in preserving heart muscle and ensuring a better outcome.

If you suspect you’re having a heart attack or experiencing any symptoms, do not hesitate to call 911 or ask for help from those around you.

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