silent heart attack

A silent heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, is the death of a section of heart muscle due to a disrupted blood flow to that area. While heart attacks often present with noticeable symptoms, a silent heart attack occurs without any warning signs or with very mild symptoms that are easily overlooked.12

Coronary heart disease encompasses several syndromes, including myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. A blockage in a coronary artery can lead to a myocardial infarction, but the outcome can vary significantly among individuals. Some may experience a heart attack, others sudden death, and some might have only minor symptoms or no symptoms at all. Research indicates that over 40 percent of individuals who experience sudden death show signs of a previously unnoticed, silent heart attack during autopsy.2