5 symptoms of silent myocardial infarction

A silent myocardial infarction occurs when a person experiences a heart attack without typical chest pain or other obvious signs. Symptoms of the disease are often mild, short-lived, and easily confused with many common health problems such as indigestion and fatigue. However, like a regular heart attack, the heart muscle is permanently damaged by a silent heart attack. Early detection of disease signs contributes to increasing treatment effectiveness and avoiding unnecessary complications.

Feeling of slight chest tightness

The symptom of a silent heart attack is a feeling of mild chest tightness, different from the severe pain of a normal heart attack. The patient will feel discomfort starting in the chest first, then spreading to the jaw area, causing the body to not realize the severity of the pain.

Fatigue of unknown cause

People who have unexplained fatigue for many days should see a doctor. This condition can occur because the heart is weak, receiving less blood while working hard to distribute blood throughout the body. Patients need more energy to perform daily tasks because of this condition.

Out of breath

Silent myocardial infarction causes difficulty breathing, making it difficult to perform activities that were previously easy. The combination of chest pain and shortness of breath occurs during a silent myocardial infarction. The heart becomes less effective in providing oxygen-rich blood to the body, causing difficulty breathing even when resting or walking short distances.

Pain in many areas of the body

Symptoms of silent myocardial infarction often cause pain in many different body areas including the jaw, neck, back, shoulders, arms, and upper abdomen. The discomfort feels like a mild pain or pressure, similar to a muscle strain or pulling sensation. Many people think this is a sign of muscle tension, indigestion, or dental problems. In many cases, the pain comes and goes, lasting only a few minutes. Some people experience cold sweats, dizziness or difficulty breathing without realizing that these are warning signs of heart problems.

Nausea, dizziness

Some heart attack patients experience nausea, dizziness, and sweating during the pain. The body reacts to problems with the heart’s blood pumping by producing these symptoms, which can easily be confused with the flu.

To protect the heart, each person needs to combine a healthy lifestyle such as eating a balanced diet, lots of green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, exercising regularly (at least 150 minutes per week), quitting smoking, and getting enough sleep (7-8 hours per night).