The thought of a heart attack is always frightening. A person grabbing onto his chest, sweating profusely, almost unconscious - this is the image we get when we think of a cardiac event. While these are the classic signs of a heart attack, did you know that heart attacks can also be silent? Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Rohit Goel, Consultant–Cardiology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, discusses the nature of a silent heart attack and how it can be prevented.
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What Is A Silent Heart Attack?
A silent heart attack or an unrecognised heart attack are similar to the normal heart attacks, said Dr Goel, adding that the only difference is that in the case of silent heart attacks there are only mild to no symptoms, which are usually attributed to some other problems like indigestion or flu.
“Due to this reason, the condition remains undetected and supply of blood to heart muscle remains reduced for a longer duration causing more muscle damage and more complications,” the doctor noted, further emphasising on the need to be aware and keep a close watch on the symptoms so as to promote timely diagnosis.
According to statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA), each year, an estimated eight lakh heart attacks are reported in the US, of which a projected 1.7 lakh cases were of silent heart attacks.
Dr Goel said, “It's believed that the incidence of silent heart attacks is as high as 50-80% in the general population. In a heart attack there is reduced supply of oxygen to the heart muscle due to some clot formation in the blood vessels. This leads to heart muscle damage causing heart failure and unstable heart rhythms.”
Do Not Ignore Visible Signs
A normal heart attack may cause certain symptoms, which should not be ignored. These include:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder
- Nausea
- Light-headedness
- Tiredness
According to Dr Goel, in cases of silent heart attacks, the classical symptoms may not be present and patients are usually diagnosed incidentally during routine health check-ups or during an Electrocardio Gram (ECG) findings. “Therefore, one should be aware of the atypical symptoms associated with silent heart attacks, such as unexplained shortness of breath, sweating, indigestion, fatigue, dizziness, pain in the jaws, back and arms. These symptoms are more common in diabetics, women and elderly population,” the doctor added.
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Risk Factors To Note
Certain factors can put you at an increased risk of heart attacks. These include:
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- High blood pressure
- Uncontrolled sugars
- High cholesterol levels
- Smoking
- Stress
“If you have any of these risk factors and you experience any of the above symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist or a physician for immediate attention. In case the doctor is not available or you are alone, call for an ambulance,” the doctor advised.
Tips To Manage Heart Health
Dr Goel concluded, “For long term prevention, you need to control high blood pressure and sugars. Involve yourself in some physical activity, lose weight, stop smoking, and reduce stress. All these factors will go a long way in preventing the incidence as well as the long term complications of silent heart attacks and people can lead a healthy and productive life.”
Conclusion
Since silent heart attacks do not present any classic symptoms or can be misdiagnosed for something as non-life-threatening as an acidity, it is important to get regular physical examinations and heart screenings. These can catch any irregularities in the heart rhythm and detect the risk of a sudden cardiac event.