What is a silent coronary?

A silent coronary is a myocardial infarction (or heart attack) that occurs without the person experiencing any chest pain or other classic heart attack symptoms. Silent coronaries are also called silent heart attacks or painless myocardial infarctions.

Although silent coronaries can be just as dangerous as heart attacks with symptoms, they are more common in people with diabetes and in the elderly. This is because people with diabetes often have nerve damage that can affect their ability to feel pain, while the elderly may have a decreased ability to sense pain in general.

Some people with silent coronaries may experience other symptoms, such as:

* Shortness of breath

* Fatigue

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Lightheadedness

* Dizziness

* Fainting

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor right away, even if you do not have chest pain.

It is also important to be aware of the risk factors for heart attack, including:

* High blood pressure

* High cholesterol

* Smoking

* Obesity

* Diabetes

* Family history of heart disease

If you have any of these risk factors, it is important to talk to your doctor about how you can reduce your risk of heart attack.