Silent heart attacks – Are you at risk?

What is a Silent Heart Attack? - Hidden Symptoms & Prevention Tips

A silent heart attack is a heart attack which doesn’t show any of the classic symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and stabbing pains in the arm, neck or jaw. They tend to occur when the person is asleep or exhibit very mild symptoms which get mistaken for heartburn, strained chest muscles or the flu. Silent heart attacks often get discovered during routine check-ups, when an EEG/EKG is done. The silent heart attack leaves characteristic scarring that a doctor can identify and diagnose, in the absence of any symptoms. People with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are more likely to experience silent heart attacks. Women are more likely to experience silent heart attack or mistake their symptoms for other conditions like anxiety or acid reflux. If you think you are having unusual indigestion, tiredness, body pain or flu-like symptoms and you suspect it could be a silent heart attack, do not hesitate – Go to the hospital immediately. It could save your life.

Imagine going about your day when suddenly, you start to feel a squeezing pain in your chest that won’t stop. You may also feel nauseous, have difficulty breathing and feel stabbing pains in your arm, neck or jaw. Most of us recognize these as symptoms of a heart attack and would rush to the hospital immediately. Now imagine that you’re having a heart attack, but you don’t feel any of these symptoms. That’s a silent heart attack. People who experience silent heart attacks often don’t know it. They might experience it at night when they are asleep. Sometimes, they could even be awake and just think they have heartburn, strained chest muscles or the flu. Some patients only find out they’ve had a heart attack later, during an incidental medical check-up. Silent heart attacks cause heart damage and leave scarring which can be detected when an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram is performed.

A heart attack usually happens when the heart muscles aren’t getting enough oxygen. This is due to blockages in the coronary arteries, the arteries that supply blood to the heart itself. Sometimes, coronary artery spasm can also cut off the blood flow to your heart muscles, depriving them of oxygen. This is fatal. Almost 50% of all heart attacks are mistaken for less serious problems, like acid reflux or an anxiety attack, and can increase your risk of dying from coronary artery disease.

If you or someone you know thinks they are experiencing a heart attack, but the symptoms are less pronounced, err on the side of caution and go to the hospital immediately. Don’t wait or worry about feeling silly. At the first sign of discomfort, go to the hospital! At Kauvery hospital, we prioritize patient care, and we will treat you carefully to make sure we don’t miss any signs.

Silent heart attacks and regular heart attacks share the same risk factors. The risks can broadly be classified into – non-modifiable risk factors and Modifiable risk factors. The non-modifiable risk factors are those that are beyond your control. These include:

Modifiable risk factors, however, are those that are a product of your lifestyle and the choices you make. These are within your control, and the ones we usually target to minimize a patient’s overall risk of heart attack. The modifiable risk factors for silent heart attack are:

Untreated silent heart attacks increase your risk of future heart attacks, arrhythmias and heart failure. We recommend getting regular annual health check-ups to all adults above 40. This can help identify if a silent heart attack has occurred, and treat you at the right time to prevent further heart attacks and cardiac arrest.

The modifiable risk factors are under your control. You can take the following measures to reduce your overall risk of having a silent heart attack:

– High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes – If you are aware of these pre-existing conditions, you must take them seriously and follow the cardiologist’s guidelines to keep them under control. Consume a diet that is low in trans fats, saturated fats, salt and simple carbohydrates, as applicable to your condition. Make sure you have enough protein, fibre and heart-healthy fats in your diet. Take your medication on time, and do it regularly. Visit your doctor for regular follow-ups to ensure your condition is under control.

– Being overweight and sedentary – If you are overweight, you must start tracking your calories and reduce foods that are high in cholesterol. Start exercising regularly to lose the excess weight. About 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week is good for the heart. Raising your heart rate helps strengthen cardiac muscle, and also decreases chances of blockages in the coronary arteries.

– Smoking – Quit smoking immediately. Even if you have none of the other risk factors, smoking is very bad for you. It speeds up the clogging of the arteries and affects the elasticity of your blood vessels. The carbon monoxide in the smoke you inhale reduces the capacity of your red blood cells to carry oxygen, making it difficult to supply oxygen. Second hand smoke has the same effects, so avoid hanging out with people who are smoking.

– Chronic stress – Chronic stress causes inflammation in the body, and leads to increased plaque build-up in the arteries. To reduce your stress, you can try physical activity. You also need to prioritise your sleep, and reduce the consumption of stimulants like caffeine. We also recommend relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, tai chi and breathing exercises. If this isn’t effective, you could try talk therapy or visit a psychiatrist for more specialised solutions tailored to your needs. Remember to give yourself grace and focus on only what you can control. Nobody is perfect, and you can recover from any mistake.

Patients with untreated silent heart attacks almost always experience another heart attack. Untreated silent heart attacks can lead to fatality within 5 years.

Everyone’s experience of surviving a silent heart attack is different, and varies based on their baseline health. Most people who get diagnosed and treated early, go on to live normal, healthy lives. Getting annual master health check-ups are the best way to ensure this. Some people, especially those above 60 and chain smokers, can experience arrhythmias or another heart attack with stronger symptoms. This can also lead to cardiac arrest or heart failure.

If you or someone you know has experienced a silent heart attack, you need to immediately focus on making lifestyle changes to avoid another episode. You must address your modifiable risk factors. Your cardiologist will give you detailed advice on how you can do this – Follow it to a T. Take your medications regularly, and don’t miss any follow up appointments.

Dr. Anatharaaman and the team gave excellent treatment for my heart block issue. Ms. Saravathy, secretary to the doctor was excellent in providing patient care and follow up.
– Sudhir Shenai

For expert cardiac care and management of heart health, visit Kauvery Hospital. With branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, our dedicated team of cardiologists provides personalized care to help you understand and manage your risk of silent heart attacks. Let us partner with you in safeguarding your heart health.

What is a silent heart attack?
A silent heart attack is one that occurs without the classic chest pain or severe symptoms. It often goes unnoticed until discovered during routine tests.

How do I know if I’ve had a silent heart attack?
They are usually detected during routine check-ups with tests like an EKG or echocardiogram. Mild symptoms like unusual fatigue or indigestion might be signs, but many people remain unaware.

Who is at higher risk for a silent heart attack?
Older adults, especially those over 45, and individuals with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease are at higher risk. Women may also be more prone to silent heart attacks.

What are the main risk factors?
Risk factors include non-modifiable ones like age and family history, as well as modifiable factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, and chronic stress.

How can I reduce my risk of a silent heart attack?
You can lower your risk by managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and getting regular health.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 •  Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801