A silent heart attack is a type of heart attack that lacks severe pain or obvious symptoms, often leading to it going undetected. Its causes include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Key symptoms include mild chest pressure, back or shoulder pain, and sudden fatigue.
Silent Heart Attack: Due to today's fast-paced life and stressful lifestyle, cases of silent heart attacks are rapidly increasing. It is referred to as a heart attack without obvious symptoms because the patient does not experience severe pain or discomfort typical of a regular heart attack. Individuals over 40 years of age, those with diabetes, or those who are less physically active are at higher risk. Key symptoms include mild chest pressure, pain in the back, neck, or shoulder, shortness of breath, sudden fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Timely ECG and doctor's check-ups can identify it and prevent serious damage.
Causes of Silent Heart Attack
According to Dr. Ajit Jain, the main cause of a silent heart attack is the accumulation of cholesterol and fat in the heart's arteries. This obstructs blood flow, preventing sufficient oxygen from reaching the heart muscles. Additionally, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, an imbalanced diet, and continuous mental stress are major contributing factors. Experts state that symptoms of silent heart attacks in women are often even more ambiguous than in men, making timely detection challenging.
People over 40 years of age, diabetic patients, and those who are physically less active are more susceptible to this condition. Persistent fatigue, lack of sleep, and mental stress also increase the risk of a silent heart attack. If not detected in time, it can gradually damage the heart muscles and lead to severe heart disease.
Symptoms of Silent Heart Attack
Dr. Ajit Jain, from the Department of Cardiology at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, explains that the symptoms of a silent heart attack are very mild or unusual. Patients often mistake them for common problems and ignore them. These may include a mild pressure or burning sensation in the chest, which can be mistaken for regular acidity or gas.
Additionally, mild pain in the back, neck, jaw, or shoulder, sudden fatigue, shortness of breath, and sleep disturbances can also be signs. Occasionally, sweating, nausea, or confusion can also be symptoms of a silent heart attack. In diabetic patients, due to a reduced sensation of pain, this heart attack can occur without any pain.
Therefore, if you frequently experience such mild discomforts, do not ignore them. Timely ECG or a doctor's check-up can identify this risk.
Prevention of Silent Heart Attack
- Regularly check your blood pressure and sugar levels.
- Exercise or walk for at least 30 minutes daily.
- Maintain a healthy diet and avoid fried and sugary foods.
- Completely stop smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Get adequate sleep and try to reduce stress.
At-Risk Groups
According to experts, people over 40 years of age, patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, obese individuals, and those experiencing mental stress are more susceptible to silent heart attacks. Such individuals should take any mild fatigue, lack of sleep, or sudden breathing problems seriously.
Why is it Dangerous?
The greatest danger of a silent heart attack is that it occurs silently and goes undetected in a timely manner. The patient does not experience severe pain or other obvious signs. This can cause significant damage to the heart and can sometimes lead to sudden heart failure.
