Silent Heart Attacks: Why They Go Unnoticed and How to Detect Them Early
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
26 September, 2025
Silent Heart Attacks are literally very quiet or silent in nature- which means you will not notice any particular symptoms. The problem is that you may have had such a cardiac event, but will not know about it until you get checked weeks or months later. An MI or myocardial infarction occurs when your heart muscles don’t get enough oxygen and get damaged permanently. This loss of cardiac function is attributed to being diabetic, or if you have hypercholesterolemia- plaque formation can obstruct blood flow. Silent MIs are very common in India and are a major public health concern.
Silent Heart Attack Symptoms In Hyderabad Patients
Most studies show a very worrisome trend- that about 22-60% of heart attacks are silent. Since symptoms are not like that of a typical heart attack, let us look at the signs and symptoms that may show up instead-
- You may have to deal with a sore muscle in the chest or upper back.
- You may have a flu
- You may have to deal with indigestion
- You may have jaw or neck pain.
- You may feel very tired all of a sudden.
Even if you walk into a hospital with any of these symptoms, doctors may only be able to notice that you have a very quick pulse or that you have lung noise coming in. For a definitive diagnosis, other tests need to be done.
Early Detection Of Silent Heart Attacks In Multi Speciality Hospital
There are plenty of causes or risk factors that can lead to silent heart attacks. This is why knowing about those factors can help you decide when you should go in for a test- though, even if you have no symptoms, an annual check up is a good thing to get done. Early detection is key to getting timely treatment- and improving your overall prognosis for the long term.
- Blood tests– to check for elevated levels of specific proteins like troponin. This protein is only present in blood if heart muscle has been damaged.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)– this is to check how well the electrical activity of your heart is functioning.
- Stress Tests– ECG or echocardiogram will be run when you will be asked to run on a treadmill or similar stress tests. This can tell your doctor how blood is being pumped from and to your heart in the body. Heart wall function and perfusion are mainly checked by these stress tests.
How To Detect Silent Heart Attacks Early In Hyderabad?
Being aware of subtle symptoms can help you understand what is going on with your body. Preventive heart health check ups are also very crucial in this regard. These packages come with blood tests, stress tests, CT Coronary Angiography, ECG and a 2D Echocardiogram too.
CTAC is an advanced test that is recommended by the Indian and American Heart Associations- and this test checks for calcium. High amounts mean there is greater plaque formation while low values show that you are at low risk of developing heart disease.
Conclusion
Silent heart attack treatment includes the use of angioplasty, stent placement or even a CABG (coronary artery bypass graft). After surgery, you will be asked to rest in the hospital for a few days and will then be discharged. Medications need to be taken, if your doctor suspects that you have had a silent heart attack- like anti-coagulants, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers or anti-platelets respectively. The important thing is- if you have been diagnosed with such a cardiac event, don’t stress out too much. Take good care of yourself and keep in touch with your doctor – as that is what will help you in the long term.
