×
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
  • Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
  • The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
  • P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
  • Email: [email protected]

How to tell if you've had a silent heart attack : The warning signs, symptoms and recovery

Health

Every year thousands of people have heart attacks without knowing it and carry on as if nothing has happened. Here are the signs and symptoms to help.

As unbelievable as it may sound, every year thousands of people have heart attacks without knowing it - and simply carry on as if nothing has happened.

We've known for some time that these so-called "silent" heart attacks could occur but always assumed they were fairly rare and only caused minor damage to the heart.

So I read with interest that these painless episodes are far more common - and more dangerous - than first thought.

Researchers at Dukes University in the US scanned the hearts of patients who had heart disease but had never experienced a heart attack to their knowledge - and found that many showed signs of a previous, unrecorded attack.

Those who'd had these silent heart attacks in the past went on to have a 10 times higher risk of death from any cause - suggesting the attack had caused both serious damage to their heart and to their general health.

It means those who know they're at risk of heart disease should have regular health checks to monitor the situation.

Just as deadly

The main reason that silent heart attacks can be just as damaging is that, in all other respects, they're identical to a normal heart attack.

Your body goes through exactly the same process - you just don't feel it.

Any heart attack starts with a sudden blockage in one of the arteries that supplies the heart muscle with blood, causing part of the muscle to die.

But, whether you have obvious symptoms depends on where the blockage is, the area of muscle affected and how long the arteries have been narrowing for.

Why don't people feel a silent heart attack?

Often the reason is that the heart has successfully managed to compensate for the lack of blood supply by using other coronary blood vessels.

The absence of pain, however, doesn't mean an absence of damage. Although our hearts have a built-in reserve capacity, and can suffer a certain amount of scarring and weakening from a heart attack, the damage can't repair itself.

If you have suffered a silent attack, you're at greater risk of having a second, potentially fatal heart attack.

And another heart attack - even a mild or moderate one - may prove fatal, because that reserve is no longer there.

Even those who survive a second heart attack are at an increased risk of becoming disabled by heart failure or a severely irregular heartbeat.

Are women more at risk?

Women are more likely to have a silent heart attack than men. This is mainly because heart attacks in women tend to cause less obvious symptoms generally.

Forget the crushing chest pain people on TV always have, it's just as common for women to experience toothache, jaw or neck pain or simply feel drained of all energy.

And many dismiss these symptoms as just feeling a bit off colour.

Spotting the symptoms

In men and women, a silent heart attack may leave no symptoms. However, there are sometimes body clues that indicate something is wrong.

If you you have any of the risk factors for heart disease see your doctor immediately for the following symptoms...

Extreme fatigue Feeling as if you have a severe flu you can't shake off Neck, shoulder or jaw pain Shortness of breath following any exertion such as walking up the stairs Nausea Indigestion Dizziness

If it's silent, how do I know I've had one?

Doctors can usually only tell whether a patient has had a silent attack by looking for tell-tale signs on an electrocardiogram scan, which will show up areas of damage in the heart.

Risk factors

Because you may get no warning, talk to your doctor about having a heart health check if you have any of the following heart disease risk factors...

Diabetes High blood pressure High cholesterol Smoking Family history of heart attacks or stroke Being overweight or obese Taking little or no regular exercise

Assessing your risk

The more risk factors for heart disease you have, the more likely you are to have an attack - silent or otherwise.

And it's not just the attack that can be silent - you could be a walking timebomb with blocked arteries and not have a clue about it.

I remember when former US President Bill Clinton, who famously jogged every morning and seemed in great health during his time in the White House, had a heart scan that revealed 90% of one of his main arteries was blocked.

A relative of mine, who regularly walks 30 miles and is slim and fit, discovered during a routine health insurance check that he had a blocked artery and needed a stent inserted to allow the blood to flow through it again.

The message here is simple - if you're over 35, get your heart health checked regularly by your doctor.

Ask your GP about the following tests to pinpoint your heart-disease risk:

Blood pressure Cholesterol test Electro cardiogram (ECG) Blood sugar levels to check for diabetes

Recovery

Reduce your risk of heart disease by making some simple but effective lifestyle changes. Think of it as taking out an insurance policy against a heart attack - silent or otherwise...

1. Stop smoking

This is the single biggest step you can take to protect your heart. Ask your GP about getting help to give up with cessation therapy.

2. Reduce your intake of saturated fat

Found in red meat, pastries, pies, cheese and butter - to help lower your blood cholesterol levels.

3. Reduce salt intake

This will help lower your blood pressure if it's high. Ban salt from the table and check labels of ready meals, bread and cereals for hidden salt.

4. Be more active

Just walking briskly every day for 15-20 minutes can slash your heart disease risk.

5. Lose weight

Especially around the stomach as belly fat has been found to travel straight to the heart area.

6. Check your contraceptive

If you're woman over 35 and overweight or a smoker, you have a higher risk of heart disease and shouldn't take the ordinary contraceptive pill. You can switch to the mini pill or inter-uterine system (IUS).

Related Topics