One in four heart attacks occur without symptoms, expert warns

Dr. Khaled Al-Nemer, professor of cardiology and arterial catheterization at the College of Medicine, has revealed that around 25% of heart attacks are silent and present no symptoms, particularly among elderly people and those with diabetes.

Writing on X, Al-Nemer added that silent cases also occur with strokes. MRI scans have detected silent strokes in about 20% of older adults who have never been diagnosed with a stroke, and this figure can rise to nearly 35% after the age of 80.

Al-Nemer stressed the importance of prevention, noting that the absence of symptoms does not mean there is no damage. Preventive measures include controlling blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol, quitting smoking, and treating atrial fibrillation if present.