If chest pain, tightness, or pressure does not subside after more than 15 minutes, or if pain is accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, or shortness of breath, call 120; do not try to endure it alone and do not drive yourself.
If chest pain, tightness, or pressure lasts more than 15 minutes without relief, call 120. For severe pain accompanied by cold sweats or shortness of breath, call even if the pain has only lasted a few minutes. For those whose vessels were dilated within 55 minutes of arriving at the hospital, the 30-day mortality rate was 2.8%. For those exceeding 55 minutes, it was 9.7%. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
No cost at all.
A national survey on acute coronary syndrome was conducted in Israel. The subjects analyzed were patients with…
No cost at all.
A national survey on acute coronary syndrome was conducted in Israel. The subjects analyzed were patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, which is a type of myocardial infarction. The calculation focused on the interval from hospital admission to the use of a balloon to dilate the blocked vessel (balloon angioplasty). For an interval ≤55 minutes, 5/178 (2.8%) died within 30 days. For an interval >55 minutes, 15/155 (9.7%) died within 30 days. The chest pain guidelines from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) list symptoms indicating acute coronary syndrome: pain in the chest, arms, back, or jaw lasting more than 15 minutes; chest pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heavy sweating, or shortness of breath. The International Red Cross 2025 First Aid Guidelines state that if there is severe pain, shortness of breath, and a pale, ashen, or cold and clammy complexion, emergency services must be called immediately, "even if the pain has only lasted a few minutes." Myocardial infarction may also cause pain in the jaw, upper abdomen, or between the two shoulder blades. Symptoms in women, the elderly, and people with diabetes may not be obvious.
Karkabi B, Meir G, Zafrir B, et al. (2021). Door-to-balloon time and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. European Heart Journal - Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaa037；NICE (2010, 2016 更新). Recent-onset chest pain of suspected cardiac origin: assessment and diagnosis (CG95), 第 1.2.1.3 条：「pain in the chest and/or other areas (for example, the arms, back or jaw) lasting longer than 15 minutes」「chest pain associated with nausea and vomiting, marked sweating, breathlessness, or particularly a combination of these」. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg95/chapter/Recommendations；International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2025). International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2025，第 357–358 页：「Access EMS even if the pain has only lasted a couple of minutes」「Symptoms may be more subtle or uncommon in some populations, such as people who are female, elderly or have diabetes」. https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/IFRC%20International%20First%20Aid,%20Resuscitation%20and%20Education%20Guidelines%202025.pdf；NHS. Heart attack：「Do not drive yourself to A&E」. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/symptoms/
Open source linkThat Israeli study compares the delay after entering the hospital, not the interval from onset to hospital admission. However, the principle is the same: the earlier the vessel is dilated, the better. Pain may occur in the upper abdomen, back, or jaw. Symptoms in women, the elderly, and people with diabetes may not be obvious, manifesting only as panting or discomfort. 15 minutes is the line NICE provides for doctors to differentiate; it is not for you to wait: if there is severe pain, cold sweats, or shortness of breath, call after just a few minutes. The NHS explicitly states not to drive yourself to the emergency department.