What are silent heart attacks?

A silent heart attack is a heart attack that has few, if any, symptoms or has symptoms not recognized as a heart attack. A silent heart attack might not cause chest pain or shortness of breath, which are typically associated with a heart attack.

What happens during a silent heart attack?

Shortness of breath can occur with or without chest pain, and it's a common sign of a silent heart attack. You may also feel dizzy or lightheaded — and it's possible you could faint. Though this can happen to both men and women, it's more common for women to experience shortness of breath.

What is considered a silent heart attack?

A heart attack is called “silent” when it has no symptoms, mild symptoms or symptoms people don't connect to a heart attack. Also known as a myocardial infarction, a heart attack means your heart isn't getting oxygen. This injures your heart.

What causes a silent heart attack?

A silent heart attack happens when the flow of blood is blocked in the coronary arteries by a build up of plaque. Studies differ, but some suggest that silent heart attacks are more common in women than in men.

How long do silent heart attacks last?

The duration of a silent heart attack can vary. If symptoms do present, a person should seek medical attention immediately. When blood flow to the heart stops for around 15 minutes, the heart can become damaged. After about 30 minutes, the damage is irreversible.

Silent Heart Attacks: Symptoms You Might Not Recognize

How do I know if I'm having mini heart attacks?

SMI warning signs

It can feel like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain. Discomfort in other upper-body areas, such as one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach. Shortness of breath before or during chest discomfort. Breaking out in a cold sweat, or feeling nauseated or lightheaded.

Can you have mini heart attacks and not know it?

Some produce no symptoms, or only produce mild symptoms that are so unremarkable that people mistake them for something else — heartburn from a lunchtime burrito, fatigue, or a chest muscle strain. "The true incidence of silent heart attacks is not known, since by definition they go unnoticed," says Dr.

Can you tell if you've had a silent heart attack?

Imaging tests, such as an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, are the only way to identify a silent heart attack. If you think that you've had a silent heart attack, talk to your health care provider. A review of your symptoms and health history and a physical exam can help your provider decide if you need more tests.

Can you live through a silent heart attack?

“There isn't that 'elephant on the chest' sensation that is associated with a heart attack, so they write it off as something else.” Silent heart attacks may not cause pain, but they are still as serious. In fact, people who suffer silent heart attacks are more likely to die of heart disease.

Who is at risk for silent heart attack?

The people who are most vulnerable to silent heart attacks fall into one of three categories: women, people with diabetes and people who are elderly. "The reason these groups are most at risk is because they don't present with the tell-tale symptom of severe, pounding chest pain," Dr. Kazziha says.

How do you fix a silent heart attack?

Normally, silent heart attacks are found long after the heart attack is over. Treatment will mostly involve taking medicines. These medicines help improve blood flow to your heart, prevent clotting, and reduce the risks of having another heart attack.

How long does your body warn you before a heart attack?

A heart attack may strike suddenly, but most people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks beforehand. One of the earliest warning signs of an impending heart attack is chest pain, or angina, that occurs repeatedly because of exertion and is then eased by rest.

Can anxiety cause a silent heart attack?

Under strong physical or emotional stress, not enough oxygen and nutrients reach the organs, including the heart. This can lead to a heart attack (silent or with symptoms), in which the heart muscle dies.

What are the 4 signs of an impending heart attack?

Will an EKG show a heart attack?

An ECG can show evidence of a previous heart attack or one that's currently happening. The patterns on the ECG may help determine which part of the heart has been damaged, as well as the extent of the damage. Blood and oxygen supply to the heart.

What can be mistaken for a heart attack?

Heartburn, angina and heart attack may feel very much alike. Even experienced doctors can't always tell the difference from your medical history and a physical exam. That's why, if you go to the emergency room because of chest pain, you'll immediately have tests to rule out a heart attack.

Do heart attacks always show up on EKG?

Blood tests and beyond

But not all heart attacks show up on the first ECG. So even if it looks normal, you're still not out of the woods, says Dr. Kosowsky.

How does an EKG show a silent heart attack?

An EKG can potentially detect that you had a heart attack years ago without knowing it. Abnormal electrical patterns during the test suggest that part of your heart may have been damaged from lack of oxygen. Not all heart attacks produce noticeable symptoms.

What causes chest pain if EKG is normal?

It could be a lung disorder, such as a blood clot to the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism. Additionally, other causes of chest discomfort include spasm of the esophagus, diseases of the aorta, gastroesophageal reflux disease, musculoskeletal pain, fast heart rhythm abnormalities and costochondritis.

How can I check my own heart blockage at home?

Official answer. You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. You can also monitor yourself for symptoms of heart disease, such as: Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness.

How serious are mini heart attacks?

While the term “mini” heart attack may sound as though it is less severe than other types of heart attack, this condition is still serious and constitutes a medical emergency. Therefore, anyone experiencing heart attack symptoms should seek emergency medical attention.

Do small heart attacks go away?

With urgent treatment, most people will recover from a heart attack and can live fulfilling lives. Making healthful lifestyle choices and following the recommended treatment plan can reduce the risk of experiencing future heart attacks.

What does a heart blockage feel like?

A completely blocked coronary artery will cause a heart attack. The classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing chest pain or pressure, shoulder or arm pain, shortness of breath, and sweating. Women may have less typical symptoms, such as neck or jaw pain, nausea and fatigue.

What does a mini heart feel like?

Symptoms of a mini heart attack are similar to a regular heart attack but last for a shorter time and include: Pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort in the chest. Pain, tingling, squeezing, or discomfort in other parts of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath.

How far back can an EKG detect a heart attack?

EKG and a past heart attack: how far back can an EKG detect a heart attack? An EKG can reveal if you had a heart attack months or years ago. Heart attacks cause significant symptoms that need immediate medical attention. However, in 45% of cases, patients don't detect any abnormality with their hearts.