Heart Attack Symptoms: What the Evidence Actually Says
Delay is the largest determinant of damage, and atypical presentation is a major cause of delay in women, older adults and people with diabetes.
Key takeaways
- Call 999 if pain lasts: more than 15 minutes, or is severe
- Typical description: pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing
- Most useful single change: Call 999 rather than arranging your own transport.
- Commonest mistake: Driving yourself or being driven to hospital.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What it is
The warning signs of a myocardial infarction, including the ones that are not textbook. It sits within Heart Health. Here are the numbers, taken from the guidance cited at the end.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Call 999 if pain lasts | more than 15 minutes, or is severe |
| Typical description | pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing |
| Radiation that concerns | arm, neck, jaw or back |
| Associated features | sweating, nausea, breathlessness, sense of doom |
| Aspirin if advised by the operator | 300mg, chewed, if not allergic |
What helps
Here is what the evidence supports doing. Some of it will already be familiar.
- Call 999 rather than arranging your own transport
- Sit down and stay calm while waiting
- Chew 300mg aspirin if the operator advises it and you are not allergic
- Learn CPR; survival depends heavily on bystanders
What to avoid
The usual wrong turns. Some are more tempting than others.
- Driving yourself or being driven to hospital
- Waiting to see whether it passes
- Assuming the absence of classic chest pain rules it out
Where to go next
- Starting Out With Heart Attack Symptoms
- Answers to the Common Questions on Heart Attack Symptoms
- Heart Attack Symptoms — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Heart Failure, Without the Hype
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Call 999 immediately for chest pain or tightness lasting more than a few minutes, pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw, chest pain with sweating, nausea or breathlessness, or sudden severe tearing pain radiating to the back. Do not drive yourself to hospital.
Where this comes from
- British Heart Foundation — heart attack symptoms
- NICE — Chest pain of recent onset
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
