- By Iram Hussain
- Sun, 23 Feb 2025 05:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
We all know the classic heart attack scene from movies: someone clutches their chest, gasps for air, and collapses. But the reality is that heart attacks aren't always that dramatic. Sometimes, they're "silent," meaning the symptoms are so mild or vague that they're easily missed or mistaken for something else. These silent heart attacks are just as serious and sometimes even more dangerous as the ones with obvious symptoms.
The danger with silent heart attacks is that they may go unnoticed. Because the symptoms are not as distinct, individuals may take a while to seek assistance or perhaps never seek it at all. And that waiting time can be extremely dangerous as it leaves the heart muscle deprived of the blood supply that it requires and the damage becomes so much greater.
In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Anshul Kumar Gupta, Consultant - Interventional Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Jaipur listed symptoms of a silent heart attack to watch out for.
Why Are Some Heart Attacks "Silent"?
There are a couple of reasons a heart attack may not have those sensational, symptom-filled hallmarks. Sometimes the symptoms are just mild or sort of ambiguous. They may think they have heartburn, indigestion, a muscle cramp or just plain old tiredness. Sometimes, people have a higher pain threshold or a lower capacity for feeling pain due to underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. And sometimes, folks just don't believe it's a heart attack, so they write off the symptoms as something else.
What Kind of Symptoms Should I Watch For?
While that sudden, severe chest pain is the most popularly recognized symptom of a heart attack, silent heart attacks can present themselves in some much more subtle ways-
Slight chest pain- Rather than severe chest pain, you may experience pressure, tightness or a dull soreness in your chest. It may be periodic or you may believe it is merely indigestion or heartburn.
Discomfort somewhere else- The pain or discomfort may arise in your back, neck, arms, jaw or stomach. It could feel like a muscle cramp or ache.
Extremely winded- Being severely short of breath, even with minimal exertion is not uncommon.
Nausea and/or vomiting- Having a queasy stomach or even vomiting.
Sweating- Sweating all of a sudden, even if you're not warm or working out.
Being completely exhausted- Tiredness or weakness that is not normal, especially if it happens suddenly.
Dizziness or feeling lightheaded- Being unsteady or thinking you are going to pass out.
Who is at risk for a silent heart attack?
A heart attack can happen to anyone but some factors increase the risk, such as-
- Ageing- The older you get, the higher your risk.
- Family history of heart disease- If there is heart disease in your family, you are at increased risk.
- Smoking- It's a big risk factor for heart disease.
- High blood pressure- This can harm your blood vessels.
- High cholesterol- This can cause plaque to form in your arteries.
- Diabetes- Diabetes puts you at significant risk.
- Obesity- Having extra weight strains your heart.
- Not moving- Exercise is healthy for your heart.
What Should I Do If I Think I'm Having a Heart Attack?
Regardless of how noticeable or how slight the symptoms may be, if you suspect that you might be having a heart attack, seek professional help to the earliest. Do not hesitate to see whether it will pass. The clock ticks each and every minute while dealing with a heart attack.
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