Doctor issues 'silent' heart attack alert as some symptoms can be missed

A doctor has issued an urgent "silent" heart attack warning, explaining that some of the telltale symptoms could easily be missed. This type of heart attack is also known as a "widow-maker", he warned, due to the fact it can be hard to detect.

A heart attack is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. This blockage deprives part of the heart muscle of vital oxygen, which can cause damage or even death to that tissue.

While many of us are aware of some of the more obvious signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, there are others that are lesser-known. In fact, the (BHF) estimates that around a third of all heart attacks are "silent" - meaning they display no symptoms.

"They're often only diagnosed weeks, months or years afterwards, during a routine check-up, or because of ongoing symptoms, like chest pain (angina) or breathlessness," the charity says.

They are especially dangerous as patients' treatment is often delayed as a result.

With this in mind, Doctor Sermed Mezher took to social media platform TikTok to explain more. The NHS GP shared a video of a man who felt as though food was stuck in his throat, but was actually experiencing a heart attack.

Dr Mezher said: "Genuine heart attacks, don't present like a Hollywood drama. The patient you saw there had something that's nicknamed the widowmaker heart attack which, is where this complete blockage of the left anterior descending artery here that supplies the main component of the left side of the heart that helps to push the blood up."

He warned how you might be on the lookout for symptoms that never appear. "Now, we're traditionally told that this will present a central crushing chest pain," he continued.

"But for this patient it just felt like there was food being stuck in the throat and he was a little bit breathless, which, especially in women, heart attacks can present in this atypical way." If not treated quickly this can be risky.

He added: "If they get missed for too long, that means more damage to the heart as time is tissue. In fact, in this case, the doctor who stented that artery said that if it was found just 10 minutes later, the patient likely wouldn't have made it."

The BHF states that silent heart attacks can happen to anyone, but they're a "bit more common" in some people.

This includes:

• Elderly people, possibly because they live with symptoms that may, or may not, be related to heart problem
• People with diabetes, who may not feel chest pain because of nerve damage from their diabetes.

As listed by the NHS, symptoms of a heart attack can include:

• Chest pain - a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest
• pain in other parts of the body - it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• An overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)
• Coughing or wheezing.

"The chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion," the NHS says. "While the most common symptom is chest pain, symptoms can vary from person to person.

"Some people may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain without any chest pain." If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, you should call 999 or go to A&E as soon as possible.