{"id":35361,"date":"2024-11-13T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T08:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=35361"},"modified":"2026-01-20T19:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T19:38:38","slug":"is-it-possible-to-have-a-heart-attack-and-not-know-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/is-it-possible-to-have-a-heart-attack-and-not-know-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it possible to have a heart attack and not know it?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

When we think of a person having a heart attack, the image is often of someone experiencing crushing chest pain that radiates down the arm.<\/p>\n

But not everyone has these classic symptoms. In fact, some experience what\u2019s called a silent heart attack \u2014 where there are no symptoms at all, mild symptoms or symptoms that are atypical (not commonly associated with a heart attack).<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who experience silent heart attacks may not seek treatment right away because they don\u2019t recognize what\u2019s happening,\u201d says Ravi Hira, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI<\/a>, an interventional cardiologist at MultiCare\u2019s Pulse Heart Institute<\/a>. \u201cAnd unfortunately, time is muscle \u2014 delayed diagnosis and treatment can result in irreversible damage to the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is a heart attack?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Heart attacks (also known as myocardial infarctions) occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked or restricted. Most of the time, this is due to a buildup of plaque<\/a> \u2014 fat and cholesterol \u2014 in the arteries that deliver blood and oxygen to the heart. If a piece of the plaque breaks off, a clot forms around it, stopping or impeding the flow of blood.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., someone experiences a heart attack about every 40 seconds, according to the American Heart Association. Studies show that silent heart attacks account for anywhere from 22 to 60 percent of heart attacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s at risk for a silent heart attack?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While anyone can experience a silent heart attack, people with diabetes<\/a> are at an increased risk. This is due in part to the close relationship between diabetes and heart disease, Dr. Hira says. In general, adults with diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as those who don\u2019t have diabetes.<\/p>\n

Another factor that increases the risk of silent heart attack for people with diabetes is neuropathy. A common complication of diabetes, neuropathy refers to nerve damage. Often people with neuropathy experience sensations like numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands or feet. But they can also experience these sensations in other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeuropathy can affect autonomic nerves, which control the heart and other important organs,\u201d Dr. Hira says. \u201cPeople with this form of neuropathy may not feel chest pain at all, or they may experience it as slight discomfort or pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another group that has an elevated risk for silent heart attacks? Women.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s common for women to experience heart attack symptoms like nausea, indigestion or sweating that are more subtle or could be attributed to other health issues,\u201d Dr. Hira says. \u201cBecause of their subtlety, women may be inclined to downplay or dismiss what they\u2019re feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Signs of a silent heart attack<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Some people experiencing silent heart attacks truly have no symptoms. However, others do experience subtle or non-specific symptoms that appear suddenly:<\/p>\n