A silent heart attack is a dangerous and invisible phenomenon, which poses a significant medical challenge. Instead of the severe pain and shortness of breath that are usually associated with a heart attack, a silent heart attack sometimes occurs without noticeable symptoms, which makes it difficult to identify the problem in time and thus may lead to irreversible damage. Dr. Erez Markuson, a cardiologist in the Northern District at Meuhedet Health Insurance, explains the risk of a silent heart attack, asks to take any change in the body seriously, and emphasizes that early detection can save lives.
When many of us think of a heart attack, the classic image of severe chest pain and immediate shortness of breath immediately comes to mind. But there is a dangerous phenomenon that poses a significant challenge to the medical world – a “silent” heart attack, which is accompanied by symptoms that are not prominent and do not actually trigger the same cry of emergency, thus disappearing under our everyday radar. This phenomenon may delay the identification of the problem and increase the risk of irreversible damage. Therefore, performing periodic tests and taking any changes seriously can be critical in preventing serious risks in the future.
"A silent heart attack is a heart attack in every sense of the word, in which part of the heart muscle is damaged due to poor blood flow, but without the classic symptoms associated with a heart attack," explains Dr. Erez Markuson, a cardiologist in the Northern District at Meuhedet Health Care. "Unlike a regular heart attack, which is accompanied by severe chest pain, a silent attack may manifest itself in vague symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, mild shortness of breath, dizziness, mild pain in the chest or arm, or increased sweating. What makes a silent attack particularly dangerous is that many people do not recognize that something serious is happening, and therefore do not seek urgent medical treatment. In such a case, early detection can definitely save lives."
"Certain groups are at higher risk for a silent heart attack, such as diabetics due to nerve damage that can dull the sensation of pain, women who sometimes experience different symptoms than men, and the elderly. Additional risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and a family history of heart disease. It is important to be aware of unusual changes in the body and seek medical attention if suspected, as prompt treatment can prevent extensive damage to the heart muscle and save lives," emphasizes Dr. Marcusson.
If there are no noticeable symptoms, how do you still detect a silent heart attack?
"It is possible to discover that a person has had a heart attack retrospectively with the help of auxiliary tests such as an ECG and echocardiogram. Sometimes these findings are discovered by chance during a routine examination, and then it turns out that the patient has previously experienced a heart attack without knowing it."
Dr. Marcusson notes that the greatest importance is in prevention: "The condition of the heart should be monitored and ECG and blood tests, including diabetes and lipid tests, should be performed once a year. In addition, an effort should be made to consume a proper diet, perform moderate sports activity and, of course, quit smoking if you smoke."
Recent studies show that most heart attacks may sometimes be "silent" or accompanied by only mild symptoms. The risk of long-term mortality after a silent heart attack is similar to that after a heart attack with full symptoms, which emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis.
"In an era where stress and burnout are so common, many people tend to attribute symptoms like fatigue or minor aches and pains to stress or age," concludes Dr. Marcusson. "It's important to understand that when it comes to heart health, it's always better to get tested and find out that everything is fine, than to ignore warning signs that could be critical."