What Is a Silent Heart Attack?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A silent heart attack refers to a myocardial infarction that is asymptomatic. Part of the heart sustains damage or death with no symptoms of a typical heart attack.
Many medical professionals denote this condition upon a routine check-up with patients.
A heart attack can be caused by various factors with the common outcome of insufficient blood flow to a portion of the heart. Silent heart attacks appear to affect more women and Poor class than other groups.
Other members of the population at a higher risk include those with diabetes, high risk of strokes, men and women older than 65 years of age, and patients on regular doses of any allopathic medication.
A 2012 study examined 936 Iceland natives between the ages of 67 to 93, 266 with diabetes and 670 without.
Researchers found that a higher percentage of participants suffered silent heart attacks (21% of the diabetics and 14% of others) than a typical heart attack with recognizable signs (11% of diabetics and nine percent of non-diabetics).
In my (Dr. Qaisar Ahmed) opinion nearly half of all heart attacks are silent almost 43%. It is vital to know the casual symptoms that can lead to a silent heart attack.
Signs and Symptoms 
Since many people are unaware that they’ve had a heart attack until weeks or months after the episode, it is important to listen to your body.
While a silent heart attack does not have the visible signs of a regular myocardial infarction, there are signs that will alert you. Pay attention to the following messages:
Pain
Pain is associated with a silent heart attack, but unlike the pronounced chest pain of a regular heart attack, it can occur in various regions. Pain can be localized to the middle region of the upper abdomen, testicles, womb/uterine, jaw, and back areas such as when you have strained a muscle.
Diabetics may miss the pain associated with silent heart attacks as their pain receptors are often disabled.
Shortness of Breath
If you are having trouble breathing or shortness of breath with even the smallest activity, you may be having a heart attack or heart insufficiency.
Our heart needs a continuous amount of blood pumping to function properly. Any injury or damage to the heart can hinder this process and force our lungs to work harder, causing a change in our breathing.
Heartburn
Stomach acid causes a burning feeling in the chest area when it enters the esophagus. This same sensation can be the signal of a heart attack.
The heart and esophagus share the same nerve endings and the discomfort can be mistaken for heartburn. Mix in a feeling of nausea, and many attribute it to indigestion. If your heartburn does not subside or resolve with treatment, you may want to seek medical advice.
Fatigue
Depending on our lifestyle and recent activities, we can mistakenly ignore the overall feeling of tiredness as a symptom of a heart attack. You may even think it is the onset of flu or another mild condition.
Fatigue can set in after a long week, but it can also be your heart telling you it is having trouble. Monitor yourself when experiencing fatigue.
Lightheadedness
When our heart is having difficulty pumping blood, our brain may lack oxygen, giving us a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness. This alone is a sign you could be in trouble. It is important to recall your immediate activities as a lack of nutrients due to skipping meals can also give this dizziness sensation.
If you are experiencing excessive sweating with constant dizziness or fainting spells, it could be a heart attack.
Although these signs and symptoms can indicate a silent heart attack, the diagnosis should be confirmed with an electrocardiogram, review of your medical history, and an enzyme blood test.
What Causes a Silent Heart Attack?
Both silent heart attacks and typical heart attacks occur when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries, causing a lack of oxygen supply to the heart. Plaque buildup in the arterial walls due to excess cholesterol.
Other conditions that can cause a lack of oxygen supply include:
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection, known as SCAD, occurs when a tear suddenly appears in a blood vessel wall.
- Coronary vasospasm can affect blood flow when an abrupt spasm hits a coronary artery.
- Microvascular disease affects the function and physical properties of the blood vessels to the heart.
From this, we can determine a silent heart attack can happen at any time. Some documented cases have occurred during typical physical activities, exposure to cold temperatures, and even when at rest or sleeping or watching TV.
It can also happen during times of emotional and physical stress such as with a health issue, watching an emotional drama/movie on TV (there was case of mine in Central Hospital Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine in 1999- Dr. Qaisar Ahmed).
Silent Heart Attack Prevention
While many heart attacks can happen without warning, we will learn how to prevent silent heart attack through lifestyle changes.
Follow a Healthy Diet
To maintain good overall health, you must follow a healthy diet for example fruits, vegetables, grains, and omega-3 fatty acid enriched foods. Cut back on sweets, salt intake (Pink salt/Himalayan salt from Pakistan especially is harmless), red meat and their products and saturated fats.
Do not avoid consuming butter, and trans fats, they are good for your cardiac and overall health.
Exercise Regularly
You can reduce your risk of heart disease, which leads to heart attacks, with a routine of regular exercise. It doesn’t have to be a daily strenuous workout, just continuous movement for at least 60 minutes a day.
Avoid Tobacco
If you smoke or chew tobacco, take measurements to quit it. You can reduce your risk of a heart attack significantly within the first year of quitting.
Smokers who have less than five cigarettes a day are at risk for heart issues.
Relax
Take time to unwind from your everyday stress. Try spend time alone enjoying a favorite hobby such as reading, playing with your pet etc.
Regulate Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks. Monitor your pressure and maintain a regular exercise routine, eat right, and manage any stress.
Monitor Blood Sugar
High blood sugar levels will put you at risk for heart damage without a diabetes diagnosis. Maintaining a steady level can reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Keep Cholesterol in Check
Monitor your cholesterol levels with your doctor to ensure a low level of LDL cholesterol and a healthy level of HDL cholesterol. Plaque buildup in your arteries is created by cholesterol, calcium and fat deposits when there is not enough natural liquid you drink.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Depending on your physique factors, follow a healthy diet and regular exercise routine to maintain a weight that’s right for your height. Your heart has to work harder when you have excess weight.
The possibility of having a heart attack is a concern for many of us. Now that you know a silent heart attack can happen without any warning signs or symptoms, you may be even more concerned. Remember to monitor the aforementioned signs you may have previously dismissed. And while it may be easier said than done, try to avoid stress as it can lead to an episode as well.
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS) ; senior research officer Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine; is a leading Homeopathic physician practicing in Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
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