Silent Heart Attack
Silent heart attack symptoms By definition, a silent heart attack occurs when you do not have any symptoms from your heart attack. However, it is difficult to distinguish between completely silent heart attacks and atypical heart attack symptoms you may have ignored. A silent heart attack is usually diagnosed after the fact and it may not be possible to determine when the actual heart attack happened. A silent heart attack is detected on an EKG(electrocardiogram, also called ECG) as a specific finding called “Q wave.” When you get a routine ECG done for some other reason and they see this Q wave, they ask you if you had a heart attack in the past. If you do not recall having any heart attack symptoms in the past, you probably had a silent heart attack. However, it is also possible that you may have had some atypical heart attack symptoms in the past that you ignored and did not seek medical attention. If the silent heart attack symptom was a minor discomfort, you may have completely forgotten about it. Silent heart attack due to atypical heart attack symptoms you may have ignored Strictly speaking silent heart attack does not have any symptom. However, you may be diagnosed with a silent heart attack if you had unknowing ignored one of the following atypical symptoms and did not know you had a heart attack: Chest discomfort: You may have had a vague discomfort in your chest that was not severe enough to characterize as pain. It could have been a slight uneasiness or tightness that you did not pay any particular attention to. Nausea: You may have felt somewhat nauseated for a while without any obvious reason. Sweating: You may have had an unexplained episode of sweating profusely for a while. Feeling tired: You may have felt extremely tired and exhausted for a few hou Continue reading >>
Diabetic Heart Disease
is heart disease that develops in people with diabetes. Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can cause a heart attack, which is sometimes "silent," or a stroke. People who have diabetes are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease because, over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. Heart attack A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked Symptoms of a heart attack include: Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching feeling in your chest or arms Nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or abdominal pain Shortness of breath Cold sweat Fatigue Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness Silent heart attack A silent heart attack is one that has few or no symptoms Stroke A stroke occurs when part of your brain goes without blood for too long Symptoms of a stroke include: Sudden weakness or droopiness of the face, or issues with your vision Sudden weakness or numbness in one or both arms Difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or garbled speech If you experience symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, be sure to seek immediate medical attention. Continue reading >>
The Silent Heart Attacks That Can Strike Diabetics Without Warning
Property consultant Michael Green was adamant that his type 2 diabetes was nothing to worry about. 'It's the non-serious type,' he'd say dismissively. Michael's laid-back attitude is in some ways understandable. The father-of-one had never suffered any obvious ill-effects from the condition he'd lived with for 28 years, and he'd been diagnosed not as a result of any troubling symptoms, but by chance following a routine blood test. Compared to a family friend who had type 1 diabetes, he was lucky, he insisted. At least he didn't have to monitor his blood sugar levels every few hours, and inject insulin. Then one night, two years ago, he went to sleep and never woke up. At just 53, he'd suffered a 'silent heart attack' - a little-known complication of diabetes. A silent attack is almost symptomless and occurs without any of the chest pain normally associated with a heart attack. Yet they can be just as dangerous - if not more so - as a normal heart attack. They're also surprisingly common. It is estimated that around a quarter of the 175,000 heart attacks in the UK each year are the silent type - and people with diabetes are at greatest risk. This is because the nerve damage linked to their condition can prevent warning signals being transmitted in the usual way. This, in turn, can lead to a delay in seeking treatment and result in damage to the blood vessels and heart muscle that make the heart attack more lethal. Heart attacks occur when there is a blockage in the artery supplying blood to the heart. Normally, this is as a result of a fatty plaque breaking off from the artery wall, triggering a blood clot. When the blood supply to the heart is reduced, the body produces chemicals that affect nerves and trigger pain. Often, people describe the pain of a heart attack as a Continue reading >>
The Link Between A Silent Heart Attack (ischemia) And Diabetes
When a diabetic suffers from a silent heart attack (ischemia), it is also called a silent diabetic heart attack. In other words, the individual won’t even know that they’re having a heart attack. Many people who suffer from one disease are at risk of other diseases. That is certainly the case with diabetes and heart disease, especially when it comes to heart attacks. Take my uncle Phil for example. He’s been a diabetic for about eight years now. I’m telling him he’s also at risk of heart diseases and heart attacks. I even told Phil that type 2 diabetics have the same risk of suffering from a heart attack or dying from heart disease than those with a history of heart attacks. You see adult diabetics have death rates from heart disease approximately two to four times greater than adults without diabetes. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients. Research Suggests That Many Americans Suffer From “Silent” Heart Attacks The scary thing is that many Americans can suffer from these “silent” heart attacks, according to brand new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association earlier this month. For the study, a research team, led by Dr. David Bluemke from the U.S. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, analyzed heart scans of participants between the ages of 45 and 84 who were free of heart disease. They enrolled in the study between 2000 and 2002. It wasn’t until 10 years later that study participants underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with gadolinium to detect for myocardial scarring. The average age of participants at that point was 68. The scans revealed that 146 of the participants, or 7.9%, had scars from a heart attack. From that group, 78% had heart attacks Continue reading >>
Comfortably Numb! Silent Heart Attacks In People With Type 2 Diabetes
Did you know? About 50% of heart attacks are mistaken for acidity or other less serious problems SNEAK PEEK: 1. Diabetes & heart diseases are the biggest killers in India. 2. People with diabetes are more prone to heart diseases. 3. People who have diabetes have high blood sugar levels, high triglycerides, and low HDL levels, which makes them prone to atherosclerosis. 4. People with diabetes are prone to silent heart attacks. 5. Silent heart attacks are heart attacks that are equally lethal. 6. Silent heart attacks come with less intense symptoms,but have same amount of heart muscle damage. 7. To prevent heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetics have to reduce their triglyceride and low-density cholesterol levels, and increase their high-density cholesterol levels. 8. Maintain healthy diet. 9. Get regular exercise (more than 150 minutes per week). 10. Maintain blood pressure as advised by doctor. 11. Restrict sodium intake. 12. Manage stress. 13. Maintain blood glucose levels. 14. Get periodical medical examinations. 15. Stick to medical advice. Special Heart healthy tips for diabetics The World Heart Day is on September 29th and it is time to bare our heart! Though as a nation India is young at heart, we are faced with a huge burden of heart and cardiovascular diseases. It is estimated that India has witnessed an increase of around 59% in mortality from cardiovascular diseases and there is bad news for people with diabetes if they do not take precautionary measures. The mantra for people with diabetes is strict diabetes control! Heart Diseases and India There seems to be an affinity between heart diseases and India. And, it might be a shocker to many when we reveal the fact that more and more young Indians are falling prey to heart diseases in their prime. It is a f Continue reading >>
Why Are Diabetics At A High Risk Of Silent Heart Attack?
Did you know people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those without the disease? This is because, during a heart attack, a section of the heart muscle does not receive blood. The lack of blood flow can cause the heart tissues to die and scar. There is no doubt that every heart attack is life-threatening and requires immediate attention. In most cases, heart attack symptoms include sharp chest pain and breathlessness, but in some instances, there are no visible symptoms. A heart attack in which a person does not feel chest pain or other symptoms is called as a silent heart attack. A silent heart attack can happen to anyone, but people with diabetes are more predisposed to experience silent heart attacks. Around 25-30% of heart attacks in people with diabetes are silent, putting people with diabetes at a significant risk. Dr J.C. Mohan, Director of Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Delhi explains more about heart attack in diabetics. 1. The cause of a heart attack, silent or otherwise, is almost always atherosclerosis (the progressive narrowing of the heart’s arteries). Uncontrolled diabetes leads to significant cardiac health risk, because of changes in the blood vessels produced by hyperglycemia (high blood sugars), changes in blood coagulation properties, and changes in the plaques that form in the blood vessels of people with diabetes. Here are 6 reasons diabetics are more prone to heart disease. 2. People with diabetes usually don’t feel chest pain because of nerve damage (autonomic neuropathy) caused by poorly controlled diabetes. If you have a history of silent heart attack, then you are at a high risk of another, more serious heart attack. And this is the reason, why you should consult with your doctor regularly a Continue reading >>
12 Heart Attack Symptoms And Early Warning Signs
Heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. Each year, about 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room. Those who reach the emergency room have an excellent prognosis; survival from a heart attack with modern treatment should exceed 90%. The 1% to 10% of heart attack victims who die later include those victims who suffer major damage to the heart muscle initially or who suffer additional damage at a later time. Fortunately, procedures such as coronary angiogram andPTCA (coronary balloon angioplasty), and clot dissolving drugs are available that can quickly open blocked arteries in order to restore circulation to the heart and limit heart muscle damage. In order to optimally benefit heart attack victims and limit the extent of heart damage, these treatments to open blocked arteries should be given early during a heart attack. Blood pressure is not a reliable measurement of whether one is having a heart attack. Blood pressure during a heart attack can be low, normal, or elevated. Heart Disease: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes The classic symptoms of heart attack include a feeling of extreme pressure on the chest and chest pain, including a squeezing or full sensation. This can be accompanied by pain in one or both arms, jaw, back, stomach, or neck. Other symptoms of heart attack include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, and a feeling of breaking out in a cold sweat. Although chest pain and pressure are the characteristic symptoms, women are somewhat more l Continue reading >>
The Deadly Threat Of Silent Heart Attacks
For more than six months, Harriett Cooke had been uncommonly tired, panting when she walked her sixth grade science class to the cafeteria and struggling to keep her eyes open when she drove home at night. One day, during a class trip outside the school, she just couldn’t go on. “I sat there on the side, I put my head down on the table, and I knew I shouldn’t be feeling like this,” said Ms. Cooke, 67, who lives in Durham, N.C. Making excuses, she left and stopped at her doctor’s office, where staff ordered an electrocardiogram (EKG). The test showed that Ms. Cooke had suffered a so-called “silent heart attack” at some indeterminate point, perhaps months earlier. Few people know about this type of heart attack, characterized by a lack of recognizable symptoms. Yet silent heart attacks are even more common in older adults than heart attacks that immediately come to the attention of doctors and patients, according to a recent study in The Journal of the American Medical Association. What’s more, they’re equally deadly. The research underscores the importance of paying attention to lingering, hard-to-pin-down symptoms in older adults, experts say. Many elderly men and women tend to dismiss these; caregivers shouldn’t let that happen. The JAMA report is based on data from 936 men and women ages 67 to 93 from Iceland who agreed to undergo EKGs and magnetic resonance imaging exams to detect whether heart attacks had occurred. EKGs assess the heart’s electrical activity, while M.R.I.’s look at its mechanical pumping activity. So-called “recognized” heart attacks were identified when signs of heart damage were evident, and the patient’s medical record indicated that medical attention had been sought and a diagnosis rendered. “Silent” heart attac Continue reading >>
Silent Heart Disease In Diabetes: "why Don't I Feel It?"
Whenever something bad happens there is an irrational thought process that causes each of us to try to assess “blame”. This is no different for doctors than it is for other people. I can’t think of anything much stranger than the discussion I hear from physicians after a young patient comes in with a heart attack. You can almost see the gears turning in each doctor’s head. The first thought is that the patient has a family history, high blood pressure, uses cocaine or alcohol or tobacco, has high cholesterol, is diabetic, has congenital heart disease or rheumatic fever or any other problem that differentiates him/her from the doctor. After all, the doctor doesn’t want to feel that this could happen to him/her. The next thought is that the patient must have been doing something to cause this catastrophe (not like the doctor), and certainly the patient should have known that something was wrong. These are common thoughts that people have (doctors included). We don’t want to think that heart attacks can just sneak up and hit us. Unfortunately, not every heart attack is preceded or accompanied by symptoms. This is often not because the patient is ignoring the problem (though sometimes people do this or hide their symptoms from everyone). Approximately 15% of heart attacks are “silent”, meaning that they are discovered during a time when the patient has an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram for another reason. In diabetics, the percentage of heart attacks that are “silent” is somewhat higher (25%). It is thought that this is because there is a problem with the nerves that carry the symptoms of pain to the brain due to the diabetes. Why should we be surprised that a blood vessel can get blocked without a warning? Strokes often happen the same way. No warn Continue reading >>
How Your Diabetes Can Mask Heart Disease — Or A Heart Attack
If you have diabetes, you likely know that it sometimes causes neuropathy or nerve damage. But you may not realize that diabetes-related neuropathy can sometimes mask the signs of heart disease or cause you to miss important signs of a heart attack. More than two-thirds of people with diabetes will end up having some form of neuropathy. The most common type is peripheral nerve damage, which creates numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands and feet. But there is another, more serious type — autonomic neuropathy — that can damage the nerves that lead to your heart, bladder, intestines and blood vessels. When this occurs, the body is sometimes unable to regulate functions like urination or feel sensations like pain in these areas. This is a double-whammy if you have diabetes. Not only are you at higher risk for neuropathy, but you’re also more likely to have heart disease. If the neuropathy dulls the nerves leading to your heart, you may not notice symptoms of heart disease such as chest pain. Here’s what you need to know. Don’t ignore subtle signs of trouble If you have diabetes, get in tune with your body. Learn to listen closely and act on what it’s telling you. If you have any symptoms of a heart attack, report them to your doctor. Don’t wait to see if the pain goes away. For instance, indigestion that doesn’t pass quickly is sometimes a sign of a heart attack. Make sure to visit your doctor for regular checkups. Annual tests can reveal a problem before symptoms occur. Early treatment can reduce the likelihood that small issues turn into larger ones. What are the signs of a heart attack? If you have neuropathy, symptoms that might be very apparent in someone else are not as noticeable for you. Watch for any of these signs of a possible heart attack: Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes: Silent Heart Problems
Aug. 6, 2004 -- It's known as silent ischemia: No chest pain; in fact there are no symptoms at all before a heart attack. For people with type 2 diabetes, this is a common condition -- one that doctors should test for, new research shows. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes. Yet, unlike other people, these patients have few symptoms until the advanced stages -- until their first heart attack, writes researcher Frans J. Wackers, MD, a professor of cardiovascular medicine with Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. Wackers' paper appears in the current issue of Diabetes Care. People with diabetes who are at high risk for heart disease -- men who are smokers or have high blood pressure for example -- should get a treadmill stress test for heart disease, he says. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, doctors should perform stress tests to check for coronary artery disease in people with diabetes who have two or more risks factors. Doctors have had difficulty detecting early-stage heart disease in diabetes patients because there is nerve damage throughout the body. Therefore, chest pain -- which is the heart's signal that it's not getting sufficient blood and oxygen -- is dampened considerably. This is the first study to examine how common asymptomatic heart disease is in people with type 2 diabetes and how effective the screening guideline set by the ADA is. Wacker's study involved more than 1,000 volunteers in 14 centers throughout the U.S. and Canada -- all about 60 years old, with type 2 diabetes, and with no known or suspected heart disease. Some had a stress test (like a treadmill test) to determine how well the heart can handle exercise. In this case, the test determines whether people with Continue reading >>
Silent Ischemia And Ischemic Heart Disease
What is ischemia? Ischemia is a condition in which the blood flow (and thus oxygen) is restricted or reduced in a part of the body. Cardiac ischemia is the name for decreased blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. What is ischemic heart disease? It's the term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries. When arteries are narrowed, less blood and oxygen reaches the heart muscle. This is also called coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease. This can ultimately lead to heart attack. Ischemia often causes chest pain or discomfort known as angina pectoris. What is silent ischemia? Many Americans may have ischemic episodes without knowing it. These people have ischemia without pain — silent ischemia. They may have a heart attack with no prior warning. People with angina also may have undiagnosed episodes of silent ischemia. In addition, people who have had previous heart attacks or those with diabetes are especially at risk for developing silent ischemia. Having an exercise stress test or wearing a Holter monitor – a battery-operated portable tape recording that measures and records your electrocardiogram (ECG) continuously, usually for 24-48 hours – are two tests often used to diagnose this problem. Other tests also may be used. This content was last reviewed July 2015. Continue reading >>
Diabetes Makes A Person Prone To Silent Heart Attacks
Diabetes has become increasingly common in India, but most people still regard it simply as a disease that deprives you of the pleasures of sweets and desserts. In truth, diabetes threatens a lot more than your simple food choices. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than those without the disease. What Is A Silent Heart Attack? “A heart attack in which a person does not feel chest pain or other symptoms is called as a silent heart attack” During heart attack, a section of the heart muscle does not receive blood. The lack of blood flow can cause the heart tissues to die and scar. There is no doubt that every heart attack is life-threatening and requires immediate attention. In most cases, heart attack symptoms include sharp chest pain and breathlessness, but in some instances, there are no visible symptoms. A heart attack in which a person does not feel chest pain or experience other symptoms is called as a silent heart attack. The Risk To Diabetics “Around 25-30% of heart attacks in people with diabetes are silent, putting diabetics at significant risk” A silent heart attack can happen to anyone, but people with diabetes are more predisposed to experience silent heart attacks. Around 25-30% of heart attacks in people with diabetes are silent, putting people with diabetes at significant risk. The key to recovering from a heart attack is the speed at which treatment is received. Those who get the required timely medical attention have an excellent prognosis; with modern treatment, survival rates from a heart attack are as high as around 90%. In the case of a silent heart attack, the patient is not aware of the attack and valuable time is wasted, leading to permanent heart damage. Twice as many people die from Continue reading >>
How To Know If You Are Having A Silent Heart Attack
Silent heart attacks are more common than we think, and they can happen without the victim realising it. Dr Leslie Tay, an interventional cardiologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, talks about heart attacks that happen without obvious symptoms, and the subtle signs you should watch out for. What is a silent heart attack? A heart attack is when one of the heart arteries become blocked to the point where blood flow is weakened. The heart muscle becomes deprived of oxygen and nutrients, gets damaged and eventually dies as a result. During a heart attack, patients normally experience severe crushing chest pain or a heaviness often described as an elephant sitting on your chest. This is usually accompanied by cold sweats and nausea. A silent heart attack occurs when a patient does not experience these full-blown symptoms. They may feel nothing at all, but more often than not, they have subtle symptoms which might be mistaken for a less critical condition. What causes a silent heart attack? The causes of a silent heart attack are the same as that of a normal heart attack. Over years, the heart arteries narrow from deposits of cholesterol and plaque. These deposits can suddenly rupture, bleed and block off the artery, which leads to heart muscle damage. How common are silent heart attacks? Silent heart attacks are definitely more common than we think. Recent studies show that almost half of all heart attacks were silent. People were just unaware of their critical condition. As a result of not seeking treatment, they had a higher risk of dying. Thus, you must be vigilant if you have any risk factors for heart attack – particularly if you have diabetes. Diabetics are more prone to having a silent heart attack as the poor circulation and high sugar in their blood damages their n Continue reading >>
Silent Heart Attack
This site is dedicated to the Silent Heart Attack which is by far the most damaging myocardial infarction (AMI or MI). Twice as many people die from a silent heart attack as compared to those that experienced a myocardial infarction with chess pain. Silent Killer: The key to recovering from a heart attack is the speed as which the patient received treatment. In the case of a silent heart attack, the patient is not aware of the infarction and because valuable time is wasted, the heart becomes permanently damaged. Heart Attack Finding out that your heart is seriouly damaged because you did not act right after a silent attack can be devistating. Many are told they only have a few years left! I'll explain who is most likely to experience these silent killer, but first let me cover the standard heart attack. A heart attack is a very serious and very sudden condition and occurs when a section of the heart does not receive blood. This lack of blood flow can cause the heart tissue to die and scar. Heart attacks can range from mild to severe affecting areas both small and large areas of the heart. Almost always, heart attacks are life threatening and require immediate attention. Silent heart attacks can happen to anyone, but people most likely to experience silent heart attacks are those that have had a prior heart attack, individuals who have diabetes, women, men and women over the age of 65 and those prone to strokes. Individuals taking medication on a regular basis may also experience a silent heart attack. Symptoms of a Silent Heart Attack The best way to identify this disease is through careful study of medical history, ECG (electrocardiogram; measures heart activity) and testing blood for cardiac enzymes. The most important treatment in silent heart attack is restoring the Continue reading >>
