A silent heart attack, also called a silent Ischemia, is a heart attack that has either no symptoms, minimal symptoms or unrecognized symptoms. A heart attack is not always as obvious as pain in your chest, shortness of breath and cold sweats.
People often don't know they've had a silent heart attack until weeks or months later when a healthcare provider finds heart damage. Missing signs or symptoms normally unrelated to a heart attack can make it tricky to identify a silent heart attack. But it still causes damage like any other heart attack.
For some people, signs or symptoms of congenital heart disease aren't noticed until adulthood. Symptoms may return years after a congenital heart defect is treated. Common congenital heart disease symptoms in adults include: Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
Often, your body sends signs that your heart needs care—symptoms you should not ignore. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, and dizziness. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor.
Your healthcare provider may order blood and urine lab tests to determine your risk of heart and blood vessel disease. Certain results, like high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), indicate a higher risk of heart disease.
Electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG reflects what's happening in different areas of the heart and helps identify any problems with the rhythm or rate of your heart. The ECG is painless and takes around 5-10 minutes to perform.
Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone. Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm. Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn) Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint.
You can have a mild heart attack and may not even be aware that it's happening. There are two types of “minor” heart attacks: Non-ST Elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
blood tests – to check whether there's anything in your blood that might indicate heart failure or another illness. an electrocardiogram (ECG) – this records the electrical activity of your heart to check for problems. an echocardiogram – a type of ultrasound scan where sound waves are used to examine your heart.
When to Call 9-1-1. In some women, the first signs and symptoms of heart disease can be: Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
Even levels of blood pressure that are generally considered “normal” may be high enough to foster the development of heart disease, new research shows.
A person with a heart condition may have a normal ECG result if the condition does not cause a problem with the electrical activity of the heart. In this case, your doctor may recommend other tests, including: physical examination (listening to heart sounds)
A cardiologist can determine if a heart condition is the cause. These symptoms may be a sign of abnormal heart rhythm or coronary artery disease. You have diabetes. There is a strong correlation between cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
1. Echocardiogram: Uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This common test allows your physician to see how your heart is beating and how blood is moving through your heart. Images from an echocardiogram are used to identify various abnormalities in the heart muscle and valves.
What are the symptoms of heart disease? Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).
If your heart rate drops by only 12 beats or less there is a higher probability that you are unfit and are at risk of disease. See your GP more urgently. These results need to be taken with a pinch of salt, especially if you are performing the maximal ramp test unsupervised.
A silent heart attack is a heart attack that has few, if any, symptoms or has symptoms not recognized as a heart attack. A silent heart attack might not cause chest pain or shortness of breath, which are typically associated with a heart attack.
You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. You can also monitor yourself for symptoms of heart disease, such as: Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness. Being short of breath.
The duration of a silent heart attack can vary. If a person experiences symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately. When blood flow to the heart stops for around 20 minutes , the heart can sustain irreversible damage. However, this time frame can vary.