How Long Does a Heart Attack Last? Cardiologists Explain

Beth Ann Mayer
·5-min read

There's a saying in neurology: "Time is brain." It refers to the need to seek care ASAP when you think you're having a stroke. Cardiologists, who also treat strokes, have another one that applies to heart attacks: "Time is muscle."

"The faster the action to treat a heart attack, the more one can mitigate the damage caused and minimize [its] lasting effect," says Dr. Christopher Berg, MD, a board-certified cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center.

Indeed, the survival rate for heart attacks for people hospitalized because of heart attacks ranges from 90% to 97%. While it's true that prompt treatment can prevent death and lasting impacts from a heart attack, the event is physically and emotionally painful. How long does a heart attack last? Cardiologists shared insights on heart attack duration, symptoms and treatment.

Related: 8 Real People Explain Exactly What Having a Heart Attack Feels Like

What Happens to the Body During a Heart Attack

Knowing what's going on in your body can help you flag signs and feel more empowered during what can be a humbling, nerve-wracking event. "During a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, usually due to a clot in a coronary artery," says Dr. Joseph Daibes, DO, a cardiologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. "These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart, and when a blockage occurs, the affected area is starved of oxygen."

Dr. Daibes says these clots develop for many reasons but often occur at the site of a "ruptured" cholesterol plaque.

The rupture causes a spillage of "contents into the lumen of the artery, which leads to a sudden formation of clot and subsequent impairment of blood flow," Dr. Berg says. "There are other causes of heart attack as well, such as when a blood clot travels from another part of the body and down into the coronary arteries, or when there is damage to the blood vessel, such as in the case of a coronary artery dissection."

Regardless of the reason for the heart attack, prompt care is needed.

"Without quick intervention, the heart muscle starts to die, which can lead to serious complications like arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart failure or even cardiac arrest," Dr. Daibes says. "This process triggers symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, often described as pressure or tightness."

Dr. Daibes adds that the discomfort can spread to the arms, back, neck or jaw, and Dr. Berg emphasizes that the process can happen quickly once it starts.

"This can start to happen in a matter of minutes," Dr. Berg says.

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How Long Does a Heart Attack Last?

While a heart attack quickly becomes dangerous, the duration of the actual infarction can vary significantly.

"Some heart attacks come on suddenly, while others may start with mild symptoms that increase in intensity over time," Dr. Daibes told us. "Symptoms can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours."

Dr. Berg says heart attacks can even go on for days "depending on the severity and how long it takes to get appropriate medical attention."

However, it's important to do what you can to seek care and not allow symptoms to persist for days.

"As soon as the blood flow to the cardiac muscle is compromised, the cardiac muscle starts to die," says Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD, FACC, FSCAI, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution an Ingenovis Health. "We typically see significant necrosis or death of the heart muscle within 20 to 40 minutes after the onset of the blockage."

Dr. Serwer says that he tends to see irreversible damage to the heart tissue in patients whose heart attacks weren't treated within six to 12 hours.

"If the blockage can be opened either by medications or by percutaneous coronary interventions, also known as angioplasty or stenting, the process of a heart attack can be reversed and damage to the heart muscle can be mitigated substantially," Dr. Serwer says.

Related: 7 Surprising Signs of Heart Issues In Women That You Should Never Ignore

Heart Attack Symptoms: When They Start and What They Are

A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate care. While it's often billed as a sudden event—and indeed can be—symptoms can often pop up before the acute discomfort hits you. "Heart attack symptoms can begin suddenly or build up gradually over time, sometimes taking hours, days or even weeks to fully develop," Dr. Daibes says.

Dr. Serwer says the "classic" presentation of a heart attack is sudden left-sided chest discomfort, like pressure or squeezing.

"Many people describe an elephant sitting on their chest," Dr. Serwer says.

Related: 'I Could Have Died of a Heart Attack at 26—This Was the Sign That Saved My Life'

Dr. Serwer says this feeling is often associated with:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Feeling sweaty or clammy

  • Weakness

  • Lethargy

  • Losing consciousness

However, not everyone will experience these symptoms of a heart attack.

"Women are more likely to have an atypical presentation for a heart attack and may report more symptoms of not feeling right with shortness of breath or dizziness," Dr. Serwer says. "It is important not to ignore symptoms if they are less typical, especially in those that are at higher risk for coronary artery disease."

We said it before, but it's life-saving and therefore worth repeating: "If you think you are having a heart attack, the most important thing to do is to call 911 and get to the emergency room as soon as possible," Dr. Berg says.

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Related: ‘I Had a Heart Attack at Age 45, and I Was Shocked by What It Felt Like'

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