About half of all heart attacks are mistaken for less serious problems and can increase your risk of dying from coronary artery disease. You can have a heart attack and not even know it.
A silent heart attack is a heart attack without the traditional symptoms. You often don't know you are having a silent heart attack. Many people don't find out until weeks or months later.
The symptoms of a silent heart attack can include indigestion, feeling like you have a strained muscle in the chest or upper back, or prolonged, excessive fatigue.
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 8% of participants who had no initial signs of cardiovascular disease had myocardial scars ten years later, indicating they had a heart attack. 80% of these heart attack survivors didn't realize they had suffered a heart attack [1].
Heart attack signs and symptoms in men and women: Chest pain or discomfort; Shortness of breath; Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder; Feeling nauseous, light-headed, or unusually tired.
Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort
You may also feel pressure, squeezing, or fullness. These symptoms usually start slowly, and they may go away and come back. This can be complicated because these symptoms may be related to something less serious, such as heartburn. You know your body best, though.
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.
A silent heart attack, also called a silent Ischemia, is a heart attack that has either no symptoms, minimal symptoms or unrecognized symptoms. A heart attack is not always as obvious as pain in your chest, shortness of breath and cold sweats.
"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.
In men, the risk for heart attack increases significantly after the age of 45. In women, heart attacks are more likely to occur after the age of 50. A heart attack strikes someone about every 34 seconds.
Signs of a heart attack include:
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. - Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. - Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. (If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.)
“I understand that heart attacks have beginnings and on occasion, signs of an impending heart attack may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, shoulder and/or arm pain and weakness. These may occur hours or weeks before the actual 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 heart attack can happen even if to those who are relatively young and fit, and genetics can play a role. Prevention is extremely important, says Arora, and health screenings are a perfect way to find out if people are at risk for heart disease. Heart disease is the No.
How common is a silent heart attack? Some estimate that nearly 50% to 80% of all heart attacks are silent.
Symptoms can be subtle, but that doesn't mean they're any less dangerous. Despite its depiction in the movies, a heart attack doesn't always produce pain or pressure so intense it causes a person to clutch their chest and collapse to the floor. Most people who have a heart attack experience a much less dramatic version ...
The survey also found that people with diabetes and high blood pressure are at a higher risk of experiencing a silent heart attack. Additionally, medical research has shown that factors such as smoking, obesity, and a family history of heart disease can increase the risk of a silent heart attack.
Studies have found that survival rates for people hospitalized for heart attacks are approximately 90%1 to 97%. 2 This varies based on the type of heart attack, which arteries are involved, and additional factors such as age and gender.
The duration of a silent heart attack can vary. If a person experiences symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately. When blood flow to the heart stops for around 20 minutes , the heart can sustain irreversible damage. However, this time frame can vary.
Mild heart attacks can lead to life-threatening problems that can affect the remainder of your life, including: Arrhythmia. Heart failure. Higher risk of another heart attack.
Some heart attacks strike suddenly. But many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. Chest pain or pressure (angina) that keeps happening and doesn't go away with rest may be an early warning sign. Angina is caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is the most common initial test and may be given within minutes of your arrival at the hospital. An EKG will check whether you may be having a heart attack. Based on the results of the EKG, your doctor may then order more tests, ask you about your medical history, and do a physical exam.
How long can a heart attack last? Heart attack symptoms typically persist for longer than a few minutes. They may go away and come back again, or they may occur intermittently over several hours . In most cases, the symptoms will begin slowly and cause mild pain or discomfort.
However, heart attacks can also cause unusual levels of fatigue, sleep problems, and shortness of breath up to a month before in women. Treatment and recovery are possible, but only for those who recognize and act on these warning signs by immediately calling 911.