Typical angina pain should diminish in less than how many minutes?

• A. 30 minutes
• B. 60 minutes
• C. 120 minutes
• D. 180 minutes

Answer: (A)

Typical angina is caused by transient, reversible ischemia, so the chest discomfort or pressure should improve quickly with rest or nitroglycerin. It should diminish within about 30 minutes. If symptoms persist beyond that, it suggests the problem may be evolving into an acute coronary syndrome such as a myocardial infarction, and urgent medical evaluation is needed. The other time frames imply a longer, more concerning course that is not consistent with typical angina.