About 68.4 per cent males and 89.8 per cent females still living have already lived 10 to 14 years or longer after their first infarction attack; 27.3 per cent males, 15 to 19 years; and 4.3 per cent, 20 years or longer; of the females, one is alive 15 years, one 23 years and one 25 years or longer.

Overall, life expectancy may decrease by about 8-10% of your expected life. For example, a person with no heart disease will be expected to die around age 85, but in the presence of a heart attack, the life expectancy will be reduced by 10% or 8.5 years.

It may take about two months for your heart muscle to heal. But the scar tissue that remains can weaken your heart's pumping ability. Over time, this can lead to heart failure or other complications. Talk to your provider about the extent of heart damage and what you can expect going forward.