A heart attack is a major medical event. But did you know that it’s possible to have a heart attack and not even realize it? Silent heart attacks have few or no symptoms, or symptoms that you might not relate to a heart attack. Prompt medical attention is important for recovery and avoiding further health problems. Understanding the risk factors and signs of a silent heart attack is crucial to your heart health.
What Does it Feel Like?
A heart attack happens when a clot blocks blood flow to the heart, which means the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen. A silent heart attack is still a heart attack, and leaving it untreated can lead to negative health consequences down the road, such as increased risk for stroke, heart failure, or having another heart attack.
But if this type of heart attack has few or no symptoms, how will you know to get medical care?
People who have had a silent heart attack often report the following:
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
- Feeling like you have the flu
- Muscle soreness in your chest or upper back
- Aching in the jaw, arms, or upper back
“Especially in groups like women, older adults, and people with diabetes, we will see symptoms that we don’t typically associate with heart attacks,” says Tanya Wilcox, MD, a cardiologist at 㽶Ƶ of Utah Health. “GI symptoms, like acid reflux, nausea, or dizziness might be manifestations of a heart attack that we might not classically associate with typical angina symptoms.”
Am I at Risk?
As with traditional heart attacks, people with the following risk factors are more susceptible to suffering from a silent heart attack:
- Being overweight or obese
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
- A diet high in sodium, cholesterol, and fat
- Using tobacco products
- A family history of heart disease
- Being a male over the age of 45
What if I Experience a Silent Heart Attack?
If you think you’ve suffered from a silent heart attack, your doctor may check for unusual sounds in your heart and lungs. They will then do a work-up of diagnostic and confirmatory tests through blood work, electrocardiograms, CT scans, or MRIs.
“This can be a more involved syndrome to diagnose, so getting one test that suggests that there might have been a heart attack does not mean that it’s definite,” Wilcox says. “If you’re undergoing this work-up, you do want to work with your doctor and wait for definitive testing.”
Life After a Silent Heart Attack
Learning you’ve had a heart attack without realizing it can be distressing. While you can’t change certain risk factors, such as your age or family history, you can make lifestyle modifications to lower your risk of having another heart attack, suffering a stroke, or developing heart disease.
Your cardiology team will work with you to make the best plans for you, but they will likely recommend:
- Regular physical activity
- Quitting tobacco
- Decreasing alcohol use
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Reaching a healthy weight
Be sure to follow your provider’s instructions about medications to take and keep up with regular doctor’s appointments.
“Lifestyle and medications are the most important factors in preventing future cardiac events, more so than things like stents or surgery,” Wilcox says.
“When your doctor is recommending medications, those are the things that will help people who are prone to having ischemic heart disease stay healthy, stay out of the hospital, and live longer.”
