The Risks of Undetected SMIs

Did you know 45% of heart attacks are a “silent myocardial infarction (SMI)” and are likely to go undetected? Expert says they are more common in men than women, and a person typically does not experience the intensity felt during a normal heart attack. Often it is mistaken for heartburn, indigestion and other age-related aches and pains.

A study published a few years ago in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found evidence of men suffering from undetected mild heart attacks. The study involved almost 2,000 people ages 45 to 84 (half of whom were men) who were free of any signs of cardiovascular disease. When doctors examined the group after ten years, “8% had myocardial scars, which are evidence of a heart attack. Most surprising was that 80% of these people were unaware of their condition.” The presence of myocardial scars was five times higher in men than in women.

While symptoms can be mild and brief, experts say to seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following:

Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts several minutes, or goes away and comes back. It can feel like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain.
Discomfort in other upper-body areas, such as one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach.
Shortness of breath before or during chest discomfort.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, or feeling nauseated or lightheaded.

There are two methods used to detect a SMI and one or both may be done during a visit to the emergency room. The first is an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram that spots heart muscle damage. The other is a blood test that looks for the molecular footprints of troponin T, a protein released by injured heart cells.

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This blog is for informational use only and should not be used in place of medical advice from your doctor and healthcare providers

Source: health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-danger-of-silent-heart-attacks

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