Silent Heart Attack Symptoms

In the US, approximately 4 million people have had silent heart attacks and have no idea this has occurred. Silent heart attacks are the same as any other attack, but the person just doesn't feel it. This is attributed to possible nerve damage around the heart due to heart disease, or narrowing of the coronary arteries, which impedes blood flow to the heart. Ironically, people who are at high risk for heart attack are in danger of suffering a silent heart attack.

Risk factors include:

• diabetes,


• high blood pressure


• smoking


• family history of heart trouble


• high cholesterol

Diagnosis:

Silent heart attacks aren't diagnosed until after they happen. It can be detected by a diagnostic test called an electrocardiogram (ECG), stress test, and the presence of cardiac enzymes which are elevated in a heart attack event.

Symptoms:

A silent heart attack can cause symptoms after-the-fact. Feeling increased fatigue after normal activities is a sign of heart damage from a silent heart attack. Shortness of breath and sleep disturbances are also signs that you've had a silent heart attack.

Treatment:

• Medications that thin the blood make it easier for blood to travel through the veins and arteries.


• Anti-arrhythmics that regulate the heart beat help to decrease the formation of blood clots.


• Managing hypertension helps to reduce the risk of further damage to the heart and other major organs.


• Modifying lifestyle


• Control of diabetes


• Decreasing high serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels


• Eating a heart health diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats.


• Getting the proper rest and exercise

If you have risk factors such as family history, smoking, overweight, have diabeties, or high blood pressure, you can reduce these risks by following your doctor's recommendations and visiting him regularly to keep you healthy as possible, and detect any further progression of the disease process.

By Barb Hicks, RN/LMT