You're having chest pain. It's scary. What could it possibly be? The causes of chest pain are actually many and depend on exactly where in the chest they occur, what they feel like, how long they last, and so forth. Chest pain can be due to aches and pains of the muscles or bones of the chest. They may also occur when you have a lung problem or even a digestive concern. Of course, we all know that chest pain can also be due to a problem with the heart. And the scariest reason of all for chest pain stems from a heart attack that's occurring right now.
So when is chest pain a sign of a heart attack? How long does a heart attack last? And when should you get help? Let's answer all of these important questions.
First, let's briefly understand what a heart attack actually is. A heart attack, technically called a myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when a section of the muscle that makes up your heart is no longer receiving oxygenated blood for a long enough period of time. By long enough, I mean that it's so long that part of the heart muscle actually dies. Just like you can't live without oxygen if you're deprived of it for too long, neither can the muscle that makes up your heart.
One of the most famous signs of a heart attack is chest pain. While chest pain and discomfort associated with a heart attack is generally something that occurs in the center of the chest, it may radiate to other parts of the chest as well, or it may not occur at all. The pain may also come and go; it does not have to be continuous. So we should pay attention to other signs of a heart attack, including:
So how long does a heart attack, when one actually occurs, usually last? Can you tell if that chest pain is indicative of an actual heart attack occurring right now?
Well, about nine million people go to the emergency room complaining of chest pain each year, but only about 15-30 percent of them are actually victims of a heart attack. It turns out that the length of the chest pain may be just one indicator, among many others, of a potential heart attack. In one study, people who were eventually diagnosed with a heart attack complained of chest pain that lasted an average of two hours. Those individuals who had chest pain of less than five minutes' duration did not have a heart attack.
So what does this mean to you? A heart attack is more likely to cause chest pain that lasts longer than five minutes. This means that if you have chest pain that is less than five minutes in duration, call your family doctor, describe what's going on, and follow their advice. However, if you're having unexpected chest pain that lasts longer than five minutes, or it is severe in nature, call 911 without delay or have someone get you to the nearest emergency room if you can't place that call for any reason.
Unexpected chest pain means that you have no idea why it's there. For example, if your doctor said your chest pain stems from aching muscles and bones from too much coughing during a bad flu, then this is not unexpected and you have a clear and un-alarming cause of chest pain. But if you are experiencing chest pain without a clear cause or you know you have a heart condition, then you need to seek emergency help right away.
Overall, people who have long-lasting chest pain are the ones that are more likely having a heart attack. A heart attack, technically called a myocardial infarction, refers to a condition where heart muscle is depleted of oxygen and that part of the heart muscle dies. People who have chest pain of long duration are those that are likely having a heart attack. Those individuals whose chest pain lasts less than five minutes are unlikely to be experiencing a heart attack. Nevertheless, always call your family doctor about even short-duration chest pain, just in case. If you've been having chest pain for more than five minutes, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 or going to a nearby emergency room.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is for your information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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