What is a silent heart attack?
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
- Age
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- 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.
