Silent heart attacks: Symptoms women often miss
A silent heart attack, as the name suggests, is a heart attack with no typical symptoms. Due to this, it is often ignored. This is caused by a buildup of fatty deposits and a blood clot blocking the artery, reducing the blood flow to the heart, commonly known as coronary artery disease (CAD).
According to research, silent heart attacks occur more commonly in women than men due to atypical symptoms and biological factors. Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms, the key risk factors, and the steps to lower the risks.
What are the symptoms of a silent heart attack?
The symptoms of a silent heart attack, unlike a traditional heart attack, are very common. It occurs due to our simple daily habits and lifestyle. Some of which include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle soreness, chest or upper back pain
- Tiredness
- Indigestion
- Ache in the jaw, arms, or upper back
What are the risk factors of a silent heart attack?
The risk factors may occur due to our diet, lifestyle, or existing body conditions. Some of the risk factors are:
- Not maintaining proper weight
- Irregular physical activity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Consuming food that is high in cholesterol, salty, and with unhealthy fats
- Family history of heart diseases
What can you do to lower the risk?
The risk of a silent heart attack can be reduced by making healthy choices and changes in our daily lifestyle by:
- Engaging in regular physical activity
- Food intake must be healthy and nourishing
- Maintaining correct weight
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Maintaining blood sugar and cholesterol levels
- Avoid smoking or tobacco products
Conclusion
A silent heart attack, unlike its name, has complicating factors. Knowing the symptoms and the risk factors is important for all of us, especially for women. Being precautious and making the right choices leads to better health and well-being. Preventive cardiac care and risk management play a major role. Although a few conditions require consultation from a specialist.
At GKNM, we have been providing comprehensive treatment and care for cardiology for the past 5 decades. Our expert team of doctors is well known for diagnosing and treating coronary artery diseases, providing the best treatment and care. If you face any symptoms, don’t ignore them. Consult a cardiologist.