If there is pressing pain, tightness or squeezing in the chest lasting more than 15 minutes without easing, call 120 (China's ambulance number); don't tough it out and don't drive yourself

In a real emergency, call 911 first, then read this.

Cost

Free.

What you get

Israel ran a national survey of acute coronary syndrome. The people analyzed were patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, one type of heart attack. The measure was the interval from arriving at the hospital to using a balloon to open the blocked vessel (balloon dilation). Among those with an interval of ≤55 minutes, 5/178 (2.8%) died within 30 days. Among those with an interval of >55 minutes, 15/155 (9.7%) died within 30 days. The chest pain guideline of the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) lists symptoms that suggest acute coronary syndrome: pain in the chest or arms, back or jaw lasting more than 15 minutes; chest pain together with nausea and vomiting, heavy sweating or shortness of breath. The 2025 first aid guidelines of the International Red Cross say that if the pain is severe, or there is shortness of breath, or the face is pale or gray and clammy, call for emergency help at once, "even if the pain has lasted only a few minutes." A heart attack can also hurt in the jaw, upper abdomen, or between the two shoulder blades. Symptoms in women, older people and people with diabetes may not be obvious

Notes

The study compared the delay after reaching the hospital, not the time from onset to reaching the hospital. But the principle is the same: the sooner the vessel is opened, the better. The pain may be in the upper abdomen, the back or the jaw. The symptoms in women, older people and people with diabetes may not be obvious, only shortness of breath or feeling unwell. The 15 minutes is the line NICE gives doctors for telling cases apart, not something for you to wait out: if the pain is severe, or comes with cold sweat or shortness of breath, call after a few minutes. The UK's NHS states not to drive yourself to the emergency room.

Evidence grade

B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.

Sources

1. 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
2. NICE (2010, updated 2016). Recent-onset chest pain of suspected cardiac origin: assessment and diagnosis (CG95), section 1.2.1.3: "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
3. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2025). International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2025, pages 357–358: "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
4. NHS. Heart attack: "Do not drive yourself to A&E". https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/symptoms/

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 13, tip 7. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer