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Heart disease remains the leading killer of both men and women in the United States, and a shocking statistic that you may not have known revolves around a phenomenon known as a silent heart attack. The prevalence of silent heart attacks cannot be measured, as by definition – patients do not realize they’ve had one and, therefore, do not get checked for any of the markers. However, it is estimated that up to 45% of all heart attacks may be silent, meaning that the patient either has minimal or no symptoms, and that any discomfort would not be easily attributed to a heart attack.
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, occurs when too little blood reaches the heart because of the occlusion or narrowing of coronary arteries. As with any blood vessel, the coronary arteries can narrow due to plaque accumulation on their walls. This is typically caused by poor health, especially a diet high in saturated fats combined with a sedentary lifestyle. While some patients will experience symptoms indicative of an impending heart problem, many do not, so these are usually diagnosed in the ER.
Traditional Symptoms of a Heart Attack
We’ve all seen a portrayal of someone having a heart attack on television, which consists of chest clutching and a painful look on their face. To be sure, an elevated heart rate caused by the heart trying to pump more blood through the arteries, chest pain, shortness of breath, and a feeling of impending doom are the traditional signs of a heart attack.
Note: that if you feel any of these symptoms, are out of breath, or have arm, back, shoulder, or jaw pain, you could be having a heart attack. Don’t delay getting to an emergency room as soon as possible.
Nontraditional Heart Attack Symptoms
As you’ve undoubtedly gathered from this article, a significant number of heart attacks do not come with the traditional symptoms. This is especially true in women, and it is one of the reasons why so many female patients tend to wait longer than their male counterparts to seek emergency treatment for a heart attack. That said, gender and age do not factor into whether you can have a silent heart attack, so be sure to pay close attention to your symptoms and remember it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Some of the less traditional but concerning symptoms associated with a heart attack include an upset stomach, indigestion, sweating, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and vomiting. While you may think nothing of the symptoms, if they are unusual for you or particularly problematic or severe, seek immediate care from your medical team.
How Do We Know if You’ve Had a Silent Heart Attack?
If you’ve had unusual symptoms and think you may have had a silent heart attack, you must get to the ER as soon as possible. While symptoms may not be severe, a silent heart attack can cause the same damage to heart tissue as a full-blown heart attack. A silent heart attack also increases the risk of having another heart attack or heart failure in the future.
When diagnosing a silent heart attack, we have a few diagnostic options. First is an electrocardiogram or EKG, which can, in some cases, detect the presence of a previous heart attack but more often confirms the patient has not had a heart attack in the past. We can also use the protein blood marker troponin, released into the blood as a reaction to heart damage. These chemical compounds are typically found in the blood 12 hours after the heart attack and may remain in circulation for up to two months. Lastly, we can use advanced imaging to see the heart’s structure and abnormalities. This may include Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
What to Do if You’ve Had a Silent Heart Attack or Been Diagnosed With a Silent Heart Attack
After being diagnosed with a silent heart attack, the first and most important thing to remember is that your life is not over. Now is the time to redouble your efforts to improve your health through better lifestyle choices.
- This is the time to reduce stress, as how you react to stress and how much you carry can affect your future heart health.
- Once you’ve recovered and been cleared by your doctor, reduce saturated fats, high-sodium foods, and added sugars. Lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables help you lose weight and gain muscle mass.
- Stay active to keep your body in top shape. Cardiovascular and strength training exercises will become more significant in your life. Some patients are concerned that the additional exercise may put too much strain on their hearts, and extreme exercise might. Regular exercise within the bounds of your abilities that does not cause pain or undue pressure in your chest is typically acceptable. Remember to slowly build up to this new and improved exercise program and discuss all new exercises with your cardiologist to avoid potential problems.
In summary
Silent heart attacks comprise about 45% of all heart attacks, which means there are few or no symptoms associated with them. Just because the symptoms weren’t severe does not mean that the outcome or potential damage is different. To reduce the risk of a future heart attack and long-term heart failure, patients must seek immediate care.
If you have experienced any unusual cardiovascular or related symptoms in the past, speak to your doctor to understand if you may have had a silent heart attack. If you are currently experiencing symptoms, do not delay getting to an emergency room or dialing 911.
