What is a silent heart attack?
Answers from Rekha Mankad, M.D.
A silent heart attack is a heart attack that has few, if any, symptoms. You may have never had any symptoms to warn you that you've developed a heart problem, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. Some people later recall their silent heart attack was mistaken for indigestion, nausea, muscle pain or a bad case of the flu.
The risk factors for a silent heart attack are the same as those for a heart attack with symptoms. The risk factors include:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Family history of heart disease
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Lack of exercise
- Being overweight
Having a silent heart attack puts you at a greater risk of having another heart attack, which could be fatal. Having another heart attack also increases your risk of complications, such as heart failure.
There are no tests to determine your potential for having a silent heart attack, but if you have the risk factors, they should be evaluated by your doctor and treated to reduce your likelihood for having a silent heart attack. The only way to tell if you've had a silent heart attack is to have imaging tests, such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram or others. These tests can reveal changes that signal you've had a heart attack.
If you wonder if you've had a silent heart attack, talk to your doctor. A review of your symptoms, health history and a physical exam can help your doctor decide if more tests are necessary.
April 25, 2017
- Silent ischemia and ischemic heart disease. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/PreventionTreatmentofHeartAttack/Silent-Ischemia-and-Ischemic-Heart-Disease_UCM_434092_Article.jsp#.WNgpxWczXIV. Accessed March 26, 2017.
- Goldman L, et al., eds. Angina pectoris and stable ischemic heart disease. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 27, 2017.
- Bonow RO, et al., eds. Stable ischemic heart disease. In: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 27, 2017.
- Prakash CD. Silent myocardial ischemia: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 27, 2017.
- Prakash CD. Silent myocardial ischemia: Prognosis and therapy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 27, 2017.
- Understand your risks to prevent a heart attack. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/UnderstandYourRiskstoPreventaHeartAttack/Understand-Your-Risks-to-Prevent-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_002040_Article.jsp. Accessed March 27, 2017.
- Mankad R (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. April 3, 2017.