Did You Know!
A Heart Attack Can Happen Without Chest Pain
Most people imagine a heart attack involving sudden, crushing chest pain. However, some heart attacks occur with mild, unusual symptoms—or even without noticeable chest discomfort.
These are sometimes called silent heart attacks, and they can be particularly concerning because people may not realize their heart is in danger.
Instead of typical chest pain, warning signs may include:
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or indigestion-like discomfort
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Discomfort in the back, jaw, neck, or arms
Silent heart attacks are especially important to recognize among older adults and people with diabetes, who may experience less typical symptoms.
Surprising fact: A person can experience a heart attack without realizing it, and the damage may only be discovered later during an electrocardiogram (EKG) or cardiac imaging test.
Why it matters: Even a heart attack that goes unnoticed can damage the heart muscle and increase the risk of future heart problems.
If you experience possible heart attack symptoms, particularly sudden shortness of breath or unexplained discomfort accompanied by sweating or weakness, seek emergency medical care immediately.
