Heart Health Awareness

Silent Heart Attack: The Warning Signs You Can’t Afford to Miss

A silent heart attack can damage your heart without the classic “crushing” chest pain. Learn how to spot subtle symptoms and what you can do today to lower your risk.

Learn the Warning Signs Lower My Risk

If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Silent heart attack awareness illustration with a heart and ECG line

What Is a Silent Heart Attack?

A silent heart attack, also called a silent myocardial infarction, happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, but the symptoms are mild, vague, or even unnoticed. Doctors often discover silent heart attacks later on an ECG, cardiac MRI, or other tests that show scarring or damage to the heart muscle.

Even when symptoms are subtle, the damage is real. Silent heart attacks can increase your risk of future heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, and sudden death.

You may be more likely to have a silent heart attack if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoke, or have a strong family history of heart disease.

Who is at higher risk?

  • Adults with diabetes
  • People with high blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • Smokers and people exposed to second-hand smoke
  • Those with overweight or obesity and low activity levels
  • Anyone with a strong family history of early heart disease

Talk with your health care professional about your personal heart attack risk and whether you need screening or additional tests.

Silent Heart Attack Warning Signs

Silent heart attack symptoms are often mistaken for indigestion, flu, anxiety, or muscle strain. But they can signal reduced blood flow and damage to the heart.

Common subtle warning signs include:

  • Unexplained pressure, fullness, or mild pain in the chest that comes and goes
  • Shortness of breath with light activity or at rest
  • Unusual fatigue or feeling “wiped out” for no clear reason
  • Discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, shoulders, or arms, especially on the left side
  • Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting that doesn’t behave like your normal stomach issues
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or cold sweats

Call emergency services right away if symptoms are severe, last more than a few minutes, or feel different from anything you have felt before.

When to call 911 (or your local emergency number)

  • Chest discomfort or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
  • Shortness of breath plus chest or upper-body discomfort
  • Sudden weakness, fainting, or a sense that “something is very wrong”

Don’t wait. Early treatment can limit heart damage and save your life.

Lifestyle image showing exercise, healthy food, and heart attack prevention

How to Lower Your Risk

The same habits that prevent a heart attack also help prevent a silent heart attack. Not smoking, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and getting enough sleep all lower the risk of heart disease.

Move More

Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Even short 5–10 minute walks help.

Eat for Your Heart

Build meals around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and fish. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks, excess salt, and trans fats.

Know Your Numbers

Work with your clinician to track blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight. Take medications exactly as prescribed.

Quit Smoking

Smoking greatly increases your risk of both silent and typical heart attacks. Ask about medications, counseling, and quit-lines that can support you.

What To Do If You’re Worried

  1. Call emergency services if you have chest discomfort, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, or any strong concern that you might be having a heart attack.
  2. Schedule a heart-health checkup if you have risk factors (like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history) or if you’ve had episodes of unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort.
  3. Ask your clinician whether you need tests such as an ECG, stress test, echocardiogram, or cholesterol and blood sugar checks.
  4. Build a simple prevention plan that fits your life: small changes in movement, diet, sleep, and stress management add up over time.

This website is for general education only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with a licensed health-care professional about your specific questions or before making major changes to your medications, exercise, or diet.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

  • What is my risk for a heart attack or silent heart attack?
  • Do I need any tests to check for past heart damage?
  • What blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar goals should I aim for?
  • Which lifestyle changes would make the biggest difference for me right now?