If you have any new symptoms of a heart attack or are in any doubt, call 911. The classic symptoms of a silent heart attack such as fatigue or physical discomfort, poor sleep, and age-related ache or pain are often confused as gastric reflux, indigestion, and heartburn. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. A silent heart attack, known as a silent myocardial infarction (SMI), account for 45% of heart attacks and strike men more than women. Warning signs include loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, lack of energy, loss of appetite, feelings of worthlessness or irritability, and a loss of interest in sex. A silent heart attack shows none of the usual symptoms we look for in a cardiac distress situation. This is often due to a blocked artery in the heart. "A silent heart attack is a loud signal your body sends that you have some kind of underlying health issue that needs attention," says Dr. Plutzky.Men may not be aware they had an SMI until weeks or even months later when they see their doctor for a regular visit, or because of persistent symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or heartburn.SMI is usually detected from an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram, which can highlight heart muscle damage. When a man reaches about age 25, his prostate begins to grow.
I Had a Heart Attack at Age 21. You can make these changes to prevent more heart problems.After you’ve had a silent heart attack, you are at higher risk of having another one. Their average age at that time was 68. If you have had a heart attack, your doctor will also talk to you about lifestyle changes. If your doctor thinks you may have had one, he or she may order imaging tests. You can have a heart attack and not even know it. Recent research suggests that nearly half of all heart attacks are silent heart attacks. 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. All rights reserved. Treatment will mostly involve taking medicines. These tests can reveal changes that signal a heart attack.If you think that you've had a silent heart attack, talk to your doctor. This can lead to a heart attack (silent or with symptoms), in which the heart muscle dies.To learn about how arteriosclerosis develops and its risk factors, read our article entitled Physical and emotional stress can be triggered by personal, professional and family activities, as well as by smoking, physical inactivity or obesity. What can we help you find? They are described as "silent" because when they occur, their symptoms lack the intensity of a classic heart attack… "SMI symptoms are often mild and brief. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. This one will likely be more severe and harmful. A silent heart attack is a heart attack without the traditional symptoms. Some men with an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short) eventually start to experience urinary incontinence, the involuntary discharge of urine. Another method is a blood test for the molecular footprints of troponin T, a protein released by injured heart cells. Then perform your personal heart check using our mobile ECG. "People can even feel completely normal during an SMI and afterward, too, which further adds to the chance of missing the warning signs," says Dr. Plutzky.The number of people who suffer an SMI and don't realize it is alarming. Other typical symptoms like mild pain in the throat or chest can be confused with gastric reflux, indigestion, and Also, the location of pain is sometimes misunderstood.
… Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Some people over age 60 have few, if any, symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), while others experience the same symptoms younger people do.
A heart attack usually occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque in one of the coronary arteries ruptures. Silent heart attacks can happen to anyone, but people most likely to experience silent heart attacks are those that have had a prior heart attack, individuals who have diabetes, women, men and women over the age of 65 and those prone to strokes. These could include an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which is a special ultrasound, or a CT scan or MRI of your heart.These tests can show if your heart muscle has been damaged, signaling that you’ve had a heart attack. Risk factors for silent heart attacks are also the same. Recent research suggests that nearly half of all heart attacks are silent heart attacks.The symptoms of a silent heart attack are not as severe as those for a regular heart attack. "Playing it safe is always a better move than risking the potential harmful downside. When the blood sugar level is uncontrolled over time, the blood vessels and nerves are damaged, causing many diabetics to have a decreased or absent perception of symptoms (such as pain); this is known as diabetic neuropathy. Your doctor will likely recommend heart-healthy lifestyle changes to help reduce your risk. Some people feel no symptoms at all. 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. Many Americans May Have 'Silent' Heart Attack. Most surprising was that 80% of these people were unaware of their condition. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Although these are commonly referred to as "silent" heart attacks, a more accurate term may be "unrecognized" heart attack, says cardiologist Dr. David Morrow, director of the cardiac intensive care unit at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. If you’ve gone to the emergency room with silent heart attack symptoms, the doctor may order blood tests.A healthy lifestyle can help prevent any kind of heart attack. A silent heart attack, known as a silent myocardial infarction (SMI), account for 45% of heart attacks and strike men more than women.They are described as "silent" because when they occur, their symptoms lack the intensity of a classic heart attack, such as extreme "SMI symptoms can feel so mild, and be so brief, they often get confused for regular discomfort or another less serious problem, and thus men ignore them," says Dr. Jorge Plutzky, director of the vascular disease prevention program at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.For instance, men may feel fatigue or physical discomfort and chalk it up to overwork, poor sleep, or some general age-related ache or pain.