How dangerous can a silent heart attack become?
In principle, a silent heart attack carries the same dangers as a “normal” heart attack. It is in principle very well possible to die from a heart attack. Especially in the case of a silent heart attack, the unspecific signs are usually not interpreted correctly, so that professional help is often not called for quickly enough.
For this reason, patients who suffer a silent heart attack are often in the infarction stage for a longer period of time, which causes more damage to the heart. Even if a silent heart attack is mild, consequential damage to the heart muscles occurs. In the case of a non-mute infarction, these are treated quickly.
In the case of a mute heart attack, the prognosis and thus the danger posed by the infarction also depends on how quickly it is detected. Because only after the infarct has been detected can countermeasures be taken and the persons concerned be treated correctly. Especially the first two hours after the silent infarction has occurred are crucial for the further course of the disease, which is why late detection brings with it a great deal of potential danger. It is estimated that 5-10% of people who have suffered a silent heart attack die within the next two years due to heart problems.
